Seahawks break silence, ‘strongly condemn’ Chad Wheeler’s domestic violence, sever ties
The accusations against Chad Wheeler are so horrid, the Seahawks could not remain silent anymore.
The team issued an extraordinary statement Wednesday afternoon, a couple hours before the latest court hearing in King County on the disturbing case of alleged domestic-violence assault against the backup offensive tackle whose contract—and likely his NFL career—is ending.
“The Seahawks are saddened by the details emerging against Chad Wheeler and strongly condemn this act of domestic violence,” the team said. “Our thoughts and support are with the victim. Chad is a free agent and no longer with the team.”
The statement included an urge for anyone experiencing domestic assault to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or to go online to thehotline.org. All calls are free and confidential. The team noted the hotline is available all day every day in more than 170 languages.
As the team’s statement infers, the Seahawks haven’t cut Wheeler already because they don’t have to. His contract ended with the end of 2020 season. The three-year NFL veteran can be a restricted free agent in March. But Seattle confirmed in its statement the team will not tender him a contract offer and will instead send him away as an unrestricted free agent.
Still, a clear, unequivocal denunciation of Wheeler for his alleged actions with his girlfriend last weekend was more than necessary.
“We encourage Chad to get the help he needs,” the Seahawks statement said in conclusion. “If you are experiencing mental health issues, please reach out for help. For immediate help with a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TRS: 1-800-799-4889).”
The Seahawks had for two days said nothing more than Monday night’s statement they were aware of Wheeler’s jailing following his arrest on felony domestic-violence charges from an alleged incident with his girlfriend in an apartment in Kent Friday night, and that the team was still gathering information.
Wheeler was released from King County Jail Tuesday on $400,000 bond. The King County prosecutor’s office was expecting to file felony domestic-violence assault charges against him Wednesday afternoon. An arraignment hearing would be next, likely within 10-14 days.
To reinforce they are done with him, the Seahawks placed Wheeler on league waivers later Wednesday, according to the NFL transaction wire. That absolves the team of even the option to not tender a restricted free-agent contract offer to him, which Seattle wasn’t going to do, anyway.
He is likely to go unclaimed and thus will be a free agent, out of the league at least for now. The NFL has the right to suspend him under its personal-conduct policy and will investigate whether to do so.
Not that football matters in this.
Wheeler wrote on his Twitter account online Wednesday after the Seahawks released their statement:
“Events happened over the weekend that transpired from a manic episode. I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering that I have caused... . I apologize profusely for the turmoil that I have caused to my family, teammates, fans and those closest to me. The most important thing right now is that (the victim) gets the care she needs and I get help. Both are happening. It is time for me to walk away from football and get the help I need to never again pose a threat to another. I cannot express my sorrow or remorse enough. I am truly ashamed.”
King County court records provided to The News Tribune include an incident report from the Kent Police Department. Its officers responded at 9:46 p.m. Friday to a call from an alleged victim police describe as a woman 5 feet 9, 145 pounds. The person initially reporting the incident said the woman texted him that she was locked in a bathroom following a physical fight with her boyfriend, Wheeler. The police report states that on a subsequent call to 911 the alleged victim was “breathing heavily” and told the 911 operator “she was being killed.”
The woman stated she had a dislocated arm and was bleeding from her nose. Arriving police officers reported hearing a woman’s screams from inside the apartment’s locked bathroom. The officers forced their way into the bathroom. They found the woman inside it, with Wheeler standing behind her. The alleged victim’s face “was covered in blood and her left arm was limp against her body. She was crying in pain,” the police report states.
The report states Wheeler “did not comply with officers’ commands and resisted” detainment.
The report states during his eventual detention by officers in the apartment Wheeler “was yelling ‘Sorry!’ repeatedly and heard crying out ‘I don’t beat women!’ ” The report says Wheeler refused to speak to officers.
The woman was transported to Valley Medical Center in Renton. While there, she told officers she and Wheeler had been dating for about six months. The alleged victim stated she was aware Wheeler suffers from bipolar disorder “and is medicated but has not been taking his medication recently.” The woman stated Wheeler had “a manic episode” Friday evening. She told police the 6-foot-7, 310-pound offensive lineman commanded her to “stand up and bow to him. When she refused, he grabbed her by the neck and threw her on the bed.”
The police report states Wheeler “strangled (her) with both his hands for some time.” The report states Wheeler then took one hand and “crushed it against (the woman’s) nose and mouth trying to stop her from breathing as he continued to strangle her with his other hand.” The woman reported Wheeler held her down on the bed and caused her lose consciousness.
The woman reported that after she regained consciousness she saw Wheeler standing near the bed. She told police Wheeler said to her “Wow, you’re alive?”
The alleged victim reported that’s when she ran to the bathroom, locked the door and called family, friends and 911. The report states Wheeler eventually picked the lock on the bathroom door and began “apologizing profusely.” Officers arrived shortly after that. An officer took photographs of the woman and noted her neck had “noticeable” finger marks on it and that her left elbow was “obviously swollen and deformed compared to her right arm.”
An arriving officer reported asking the woman if she thought she was going to die.
“I thought I already had,” she told the officer.
Wheeler, who turned 27 last week, was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic-violence assault. He was booked into King County Jail at 1:19 a.m. Saturday. The King County prosecuting attorney’s office asked a King County District Court judge to hold Wheeler on bail of $500,000. Judge Joe Campagna set Wheeler’s bail at $400,000. The judge issued a no-contact order for Wheeler with the alleged victim through March 8, according to King County District Court records.
Wheeler is not required nor expected to attend a probable-cause hearing and basis for a filing decision from the King County prosecutor’s office Wednesday afternoon. He will be required to attend his expected arraignment within two weeks. By then, the case will be moved to King County Superior Court because it involves a felony charge.
Also by then, Wheeler will have played his last game for the Seahawks—and perhaps in the NFL.
This story was originally published January 27, 2021 at 1:47 PM.
