Ray McDonald: NFL player arrested on domestic violence and child endangerment charges

The Chicago Bears player faces new allegations of domestic violence.

(Getty Images)

An American football player has been released from his team after a domestic violence arrest.

Update:

The Chicago Bears G.M. Ryan Pace released a statement on Monday night confirming that the club has cut ties with Mr McDonald.

"We believe in second chances, but when we signed Ray we were very clear what our expectations were if he was to remain a Bear," Mr Pace said in a statement. "He was not able to meet the standard and the decision was made to release him.

Chicago Bears defensive end Ray McDonald was detained on Monday morning, NBC Bay Area first reported. He was arrested on two separate charges of domestic violence and child endangerment, a spokesman for the Santa Clara Police Department confirmed to The Independent.

Kurt Clarke, a Santa Clara police lieutenant, said in a statement that Mr McDonald was arrested after he allegedly "physically assaulted the victim while she was holding a baby."

In December, he was the suspect in a separate rape allegation. Upon learning of the investigation, the San Francisco 49ers released Mr McDonald. The Santa Clara County District Attorney ultimately dropped the charges in each case.

George McCaskey, the Chicago Bears owner, told the Chicago Tribune that he had not spoken to the alleged victims before signing the former 49ers defensive to a one-year deal in March.

“An alleged victim, I think — much like anybody else who has a bias in this situation — there's a certain amount of discounting in what they have to say.”

Mr McDonald's mother, LaBrina McDonald, told NBC Bay Area she was unaware of the arrest but her son's ex-fiancé gave birth to their child, Amari, in March.

Santa Cruz police said they did not have further information on the incidents at press time.