Jets Rookie Charged With Assault in Morris County, Could Face NFL's New Domestic Violence Penalty

A New York Jets rookie practice squad member could be the first player disciplined under the NFL’s new domestic violence policy after Florham Park police charged him with simple assault this week.

On Sunday, Aug. 31, Florham Park Police responded to the Wyndham – Hamilton Park Hotel at 6:58 p.m. for a report of an altercation, police said. After arriving at the hotel, police found Onochie Quincy Enunwa, 22, and charged him with simple assault for allegedly hitting his girlfriend, police said.

Police have released the dispatch call made by a hotel employee, who says a heated argument had just ended and an “injured woman” was in the lobby, with a young man currently standing in the hallway. The caller goes on to say, “a young woman was assaulted.”

According to tmz.com, Enunwa pled not guilty to the domestic violence charge and was told by the judge to refrain from “future acts of domestic violence.”

Police have not released the victim’s name or any other information regarding her identity.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently changed the organization’s policy and punishment for any domestic violence incident, with a first offense garnering a six-game suspension without pay, and a second offense bringing forth a an indefinite suspension of at least a year, according to latimes.com.

The NFL’s policy change comes after a public outcry regarding the two-game suspension of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, who was seen dragging his then-fiance out of an Atlantic City casino elevator after allegedly knocking her out with a punch.

Enunwa was a team captain during his final year as a Nebraska Cornhusker in 2013 and is originally from Moreno Valley, California. The 6’2” and 225-pound wide receiver was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round at number 209 overall in 2014. He’s currently on the team’s practice squad.