Dez Bryant's mom alleges assault

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Blogger Blitz: Dez Bryant

NFC East blogger Dan Graziano talks about the impact that Dez Bryant's arrest will have on the Cowboys training campTags: Blogger Blitz, Dez Bryant, Cowboys, Dan Graziano

Blogger Blitz: Dez Bryant

Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant was arrested Monday after allegedly assaulting his mother, Angela, on Saturday, according to DeSoto, Texas, police captain Ron Smith.

According to the incident report, Bryant became angry when his mother asked him to leave her home during an argument Saturday afternoon.

Initially, at a Tuesday news conference, Smith said Bryant slapped his mother in the face, but the police report, which was released later Tuesday, clarified that Bryant allegedly grabbed her by her T-shirt and hair and "hit her across the face with his ball cap."

Angela Bryant, whose T-shirt and bra were allegedly torn during the incident, indicated on a 911 call that this was not the first time she was assaulted by her son.

"I can't keep letting him do this," said Angela Bryant, who made the call from the nearby home of family friend and adviser David Wells. "I can't keep letting him do me like this. I'm tired. I'm going to put an end to it today. I'm going to put an end to it today. I'm tired."

Officers who responded to the 911 call from Bryant's mother did not observe any injuries, and she did not complain of pain at the time, according to the report. On Monday, after officers contacted Bryant's mother at her home, the report states that she said she had pain in her wrists, hands and arms. Officers observed swelling around her wrists at that time, according to the report.

After being transported to the DeSoto police department, Angela Bryant, 37, provided a written statement detailing the alleged assault. According to the report, she stated Dez Bryant repeatedly struck her in the hands and wrists. Officers observed bruising on both arms. She also complained that her chest was sore from Bryant pushing her.

After a warrant was issued for his arrest, Bryant turned himself in Monday and was booked without incident.

"It's pretty straightforward," Smith said. "Him and his mom got in an argument. She had some injuries. We made an arrest."

Police plan to send their case later this week to Dallas prosecutors, Smith said.

West said Tuesday that he was still investigating the circumstances of Saturday's incident. One of his primary goals, he said, was to "make certain that the family heals."

"I know that Dez loves his mother," West said. "I know his mother loves him."

West declined to say if Dez and Angela Bryant have spoken since Saturday or what may have caused their argument, but did deny that Dez Bryant had hit his mother across the face with a ball cap.

"That's an allegation and I would hope people would be outraged by the allegation, but they need to wait until the facts come out to make a determination as to whether or not that actually occurred. And I'm saying it did not occur," West said.

West also denied any previous physical incidents between Bryant and his mother.

The Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $4,000 and up to a year in jail. The arrest also subjects Bryant to possible penalty under the NFL's personal conduct policy.

The Cowboys said they were aware of the arrest but declined further comment. Bryant's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, also declined comment.

“

I can't keep letting him do this. I can't keep letting him do me like this. I'm tired. I'm going to put an end to it today. I'm going to put an end to it today. I'm tired.

” -- Angela Bryant, in 911 call

This is Bryant's first arrest, but it is not his first incident that required police involvement since the Cowboys traded up to select the former Oklahoma State star with the 24th overall pick in the 2010 draft.

In January, Bryant was detained by police but not arrested after an alleged altercation at a Miami Beach nightclub.

Last summer, off-duty police working as security at an upscale Dallas mall kicked Bryant and friends out of the mall because of inappropriate attire (sagging pants) and language. Bryant was temporarily banned from the mall.

Bryant, who was widely considered a top-10 talent but slipped in the draft because of teams' character concerns, also has been sued for unpaid debts for jewelry and sports tickets from before he was drafted.

Angela Bryant has a criminal record that includes multiple convictions on drug charges.

She served 18 months in prison after being convicted for selling crack cocaine in 1997. She also was sentenced to 10 years' probation due to an April 2009 arrest for selling crack cocaine to police informants in Lufkin, Texas, and being found guilty of two felony counts for possession of a controlled substance and the manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance.

Information from ESPNDallas.com's Jean-Jacques Taylor and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Tim MacMahon

ESPNDallas.com

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• Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009
• Covers the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks
• Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM