Former Raven Derrick Mason Indicted For Domestic Assault

NASHVILLE, TN — Former Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason was indicted on domestic assault charges recently related to an incident involving his girlfriend in Tennessee. Metro Nashville Police charged Mason with felony aggravated domestic assault and misdemeanor vandalism after an incident at his girlfriend's home on Oct. 30, 2017.

The woman told investigators Mason grabbed her by the neck and hit her in the stomach after she told Mason, 43, she wanted to break up with him.

Detectives said the woman had bruises on her right arm, a red mark on her neck and scratch on her left hand. There was also a hole in the back of the door, which the woman told police Mason caused at her home in Bellevue, Tennessee, according to an affidavit.

Mason had already left by the time police arrived, but he turned himself in after he learned a detective had sworn out warrants for his arrest. There was no previous record of incidents between Mason and the woman.

Ultimately, the grand jury indicted Mason on misdemeanor domestic assault.

Mason played for the Ravens from 2005 to 2010 before splitting the 2011 season between the New York Jets and Houston Oilers. He started his career with the Tennessee Oilers and Titans in 1997.

Mason is not the only Raven to have been charged in a domestic assault.

Former Ravens running back Ray Rice put the issue of domestic violence into the national spotlight after he was recorded punching the woman who is now his wife in a hotel elevator in 2014.

The NFL changed its policy on domestic violence following criticism when Rice was given a two-game suspension and two weeks without pay.

Players would face six-game suspensions for first-time offenses and a lifetime ban for second offenses, the NFL later announced. A second-time offender could petition for reinstatement after one year.

A public service announcement during the 2015 Super Bowl encouraged victims to come forward to put an end to domestic violence.

Rice pleaded not guilty and went through a pretrial intervention program that resulted in the charge being dropped. His contract was terminated with the Ravens, and he has not played in the NFL since. Last month, Rice spoke at an anti-violence rally in his hometown of New Rochelle, New York. He was also inducted into the New Rochelle Walk of Fame in 2017.

After severing ties with Rice, the Baltimore Ravens took measures to curb domestic violence. The Ravens teamed up with the One Love Foundation, created in memory of Yeardley Love, 22, of Cockeysville, who was murdered by her boyfriend at college in 2010. The Ravens donated $400,000 so the organization could screen a documentary about domestic violence around Maryland, according to the Ravens.

Additionally, the Ravens and domestic violence center House of Ruth of Maryland entered into a three-year partnership that included a $600,000 donation from the Ravens and the launch of the House of Ruth's "Man Up!" campaign to educate men about intimate partner violence. Ravens players and staff signed on to participate in workshops and educational programs that included learning nonviolent relationship skills.

— By Patch editors J.R. Lind and Elizabeth Janney

SEE ALSO: Former Raven Derrick Mason Charged With Domestic Assault

Photo via Metro Nashville Police.