Vikings WR Beat Up Girlfriend, Stole Her Cellphone: Complaint

EAGAN, MN — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cayleb Seth Jones faces multiple charges after authorities say he beat up his girlfriend at an Eagan hotel Tuesday and took her cellphone when she said she was calling police, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said.

Jones, 25, of Los Angeles, was charged with theft, interference with an emergency call, and domestic assault, Backstrom said. Jones' girlfriend made a 911 call around 2:30 p.m. saying the Vikings wide receiver had assaulted her, Backstrom said in a news release.

The caller told the dispatcher her boyfriend was leaving, but the line disconnected suddenly; when the dispatcher called back, a man answered the phone and hung up, according to the complaint.

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The woman, who lives with Jones in California, told authorities the couple's argument was both physical and verbal and that he picked her up and threw her down at one point, according to the complaint. The argument spilled out into the hallway and Jones kicked the woman, who then said she was calling police, according to the complaint.

After more pushing and shoving, she gathered her belongings and got into an elevator, but Jones intercepted it on the second floor, smacked the phone out of her hand when the door opened, picked up the phone and left, authorities said.

Police said the woman had noticeable rug burns on her left hand, left knee and left shin, a scratch on her neck and one broken fingernail, according to the complaint.

The woman said Jones intercepted the elevator on the second floor, and when the door opened he smacked the phone out of her hand, picked it up, and left, authorities said.

Officers noticed a rug burn on the victim’s left hand, left knee and left shin, a scratch on her neck, and a broken nail on her hand, the complaint states.

Two witnesses in the hotel confirmed hearing loud noises and a disturbance during the confrontation, authorities said.

Jones made his first court appearance on the charges Thursday.

"Any incident of domestic violence is a serious matter," Backstrom said in a statement.

Jones was on the Vikings' practice squad for the entire 2017 season. In April, the NFL announced he would be suspended for the first four games of 2018-19 season for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.

Image via Dakota County Jail