Victim, witness claim Rainey innocent of battery

Video courtesy of Alachua County Court via The Gainesville Sun.

Former Florida Gators and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Chris Rainey was arrested early Thursday morning and charged with simple battery (dating violence). However, the alleged victim in the incident said Friday that Rainey did not commit the crime and that all charges in the case should be dropped.

According to Rainey’s attorney Huntley Johnson, who spoke with The Gainesville Sun’s Jon Silman, the victim sent an e-mail to the judge on the case as a plea for Rainey to have his charges thrown out.

“In no way did I feel physically threatened at any time,” she wrote. “Over the course of our relationship together, I have never been verbally or physically threatened by Chris Rainey. What happened [Thursday] is a misunderstanding and should not affect his future in any way.”

Rainey stands accused of slapping his girlfriend after an argument broke out over a cell phone. A witness told Gainesville police that Rainey pulled her out of a car and slapped her before he chased after her and both parties fell to the ground.

Johnson related to the court that the victim “was adamant there was no crime committed” and said the police report indicated there were no marks on her person, which would likely occur after an open slap to the face.

“Johnson said the family specifically asked the judge not to impose a no-contact provision in his release decision,” according to the paper. Nevertheless, the judge did impose that provision and also ruled that Rainey cannot possess any weapons or firearms until his court date before releasing him on his own recognizance.

Also coming to light Friday is a statement from “Heather M,” a neighbor who sent an e-mail to Deadspin.com claiming that Rainey has been falsely accused and that the Gainesville Police Department refused to accept her sworn statement.

“The girl with whom he was arguing was telling the police officers the truth about what happened,” she wrote. “I contacted GPD and asked to file a report on what actually happened. I was treated like a criminal, despite being a straight A student and never having even a little trouble with the law. I was accused of lying.”

She continued, “I think it is also worth noting that the person who called 911 was a neighbor who openly dislikes Chris and his roommate and wanders the neighborhood asking if she can have our passwords for our internet instead of buying her own.”

Rainey’s court date has not yet been released and it remains to be seen what happens with his NFL future as he will hit free agency once the Steelers are able to officially waive him next month.