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Domestic assault hearing for Nashville Predators player Austin Watson postponed

admin — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 07:43:51 +0000

Washington is known nationally for its politics, and the division that creates. But the Capitals’ championship parade put focus on the local residents, and a city united by its team’s title run.
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Nashville Predators left wing Austin Watson (51) stretches before Game 7 of the second round NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena, Thursday, May 10, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn.(Photo: George Walker IV / Tennessean.com)

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — The first court appearance for a Nashville Predators player accused of assaulting his girlfriend at a gas station earlier this month has been postponed to next month.

Franklin police arrested team forward Austin Watson on June 16 and charged him with domestic assault on his girlfriend, with whom he has an infant.

Watson, 26, of Nashville, had initially been set to appear in Williamson County General Sessions court Thursday on the misdemeanor charge. Court records show the hearing is now set for July 24.

As of Thursday, Watson, remained free from jail on $4,500 bond.

According to an arrest warrant, on the evening of the reported offense, a Franklin Police Department officer was flagged down by a witness for a possible domestic situation at the Shell Station on Murfreesboro Road.

The officer soon learned Watson and his girlfriend — with whom he had a child in April — got into an argument in a vehicle at a gas station about her drinking and not being able to attend a wedding.

At the scene, the affidavit continues, Watson admitted to pushing his girlfriend and an officer noticed red marks on the woman’s chest.

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If convicted of the misdemeanor, Austin faces up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and up to a $2,500 fine, said Williamson County District Attorney Kim Helper.

A first-round pick in 2010, Watson signed a three-year, $3.3 million contract in July 2017. He had a career-high 14 goals and 19 points this past season as well as eight points in 13 playoff games.

Both the Predators organization and the NHL are aware of the arrest.

“We are still gathering facts and it is not appropriate for us to comment further at this time, but this is a matter that we are taking very seriously and will cooperate fully with the investigation by law enforcement,” the Predators released in a statement several days after Watson’s arrest. “The Nashville Predators have and will continue to stand side by side with AMEND in the fight to end violence against women.”

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

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Domestic assault hearing for Nashville Predators player Austin Watson postponed

admin — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 04:59:57 +0000

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FRANKLIN — The first court appearance for a Nashville Predators player accused of assaulting his girlfriend at a gas station earlier this month has been postponed to next month.

Franklin police arrested team forward Austin Watson on June 16 and charged him with domestic assault on his girlfriend, with whom he has an infant.

Watson, 26, of Nashville, had initially been set to appear in Williamson County General Sessions court Thursday on the misdemeanor charge. Court records show the hearing is now set for July 24.

As of Thursday, Watson, remained free from jail on $4,500 bond.

At the scene, the affidavit continues, Watson admitted to pushing his girlfriend and an officer noticed red marks on the woman’s chest.

If convicted of the misdemeanor, Austin faces up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and up to a $2,500 fine, said Williamson County District Attorney Kim Helper.

A first-round pick in 2010, Watson signed a three-year, $3.3 million contract in July 2017. He had a career-high 14 goals and 19 points this past season as well as eight points in 13 playoff games.

Both the Predators organization and the NHL are aware of the arrest.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

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Predators player Austin Watson charged with domestic assault

admin — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 06:33:53 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson was arrested on a charge of domestic assault involving his girlfriend over the weekend.

Franklin Police Lt. Charles Warner said Wednesday that Watson was arrested Saturday evening. Watson was released from jail on $4,500 bond and is due in court June 28.

According to a Williamson County court affidavit, a Franklin police officer was flagged down by a witness to a possible domestic situation at a gas station. The officer noticed the passenger of a car “trying to back away from being shoved away.” The report said the passenger said “stop” and was trying to cover her face.

Watson told police he and his girlfriend were having an argument and he admitted to pushing her. Officers said they found red marks on the woman’s chest, and she said Watson had caused them.

Police said the witness provided confirmation.

The affidavit says domestic assault is considered a Class A misdemeanor.

The Predators said in a statement they “are still gathering facts and it’s not appropriate for us to comment further at this time.” Team officials noted “this is a matter that we are taking very seriously and we will cooperate fully with the investigation by law enforcement.”

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement that the league is aware of the situation and “it will be dealt with in due course and prior to next season.” Daly added “our focus currently is on the well-being and safety of Austin’s girlfriend, their child and Austin himself. “

Last year, Watson appeared alongside other Predators players in a video calling for an end to domestic violence.

The 26-year-old Watson is a former first-round draft pick who scored a career-high 14 goals and had five assists in 76 games during the 2017-18 regular season. He had five goals and three assists in 13 playoff games.

Watson has 23 goals and 24 assists in 216 career regular-season games, all with the Predators.

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Nashville Predators player Austin Watson arrested on domestic assault charge

admin — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 06:13:25 +0000

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Austin Watson(Photo: Franklin Police Department)

A Nashville Predators forward who was part of a domestic violence public awareness campaign last year has been charged with domestic assault in Middle Tennessee, authorities confirmed Wednesday.

Austin Watson, 26, of Nashville, was arrested at 7:20 p.m. on Saturday in the 1400 block of Murfreesboro Road in Franklin, according to Franklin Police Department Lt. Charles Warner.

According to an arrest affidavit, just after 7 p.m. that day, a Franklin police officer was flagged down by a witness for a possible domestic situation at the Shell Station on Murfreesboro Road.

When the officer responded, he noticed a vehicle at the station whose passenger was trying to “back away from being shoved away,” the affidavit states. “The passenger said ‘stop’ and was trying to cover her face.”

When the officer made contact with the driver, later identified as Watson, he said that he and his girlfriend, who was the passenger, were having an argument about her drinking and not being able to attend a wedding, the officer wrote in the affidavit.

At the scene, the affidavit continues, Watson admitted to pushing his girlfriend and the officer said he noticed red marks on her chest.

Watson was arrested and as of Wednesday he was free on $4,500 bond. He is due in Williamson County General Sessions court the afternoon of June 28 to face the charge.

Williamson County District Attorney Kim Helper said if Austin is convicted of the misdemeanor he faces up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and up to a $2,500 fine.

More: Austin Watson arrest: Predators’ forward participated in domestic-violence awareness effort

Nashville Predators respond to arrest

Records show Watson and his former wife, Karly Marie Stothart, divorced in December 2016.

According to the Predators organization, Watson and his current girlfriend had a baby in April.

“We are aware of the incident involving Austin Watson on Saturday night. We are still gathering facts and it is not appropriate for us to comment further at this time, but this is a matter that we are taking very seriously and will cooperate fully with the investigation by law enforcement. The Nashville Predators have and will continue to stand side by side with AMEND in the fight to end violence against women.”

A first-round pick in 2010, Watson signed a three-year, $3.3 million contract in July 2017. He had a career-high 14 goals and 19 points this past season as well as eight points in 13 playoff games.

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NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league is also aware of the arrest.

“Austin doesn’t really have Club duties currently,” Daly said. “It will be dealt with in due course and prior to next season. Our focus currently is on the well being and safety of Austin’s girlfriend, their child and Austin himself. ”

Watson part of domestic violence awareness campaign

In 2017, Watson, former captain Mike Fisher, and defensemen P.K. Subban and Ryan Ellis were part of a public-awareness campaign titled “Unsilence the Violence.”

The effort, part of AMEND — the YWCA’s campaign to end violence against women, was in conjunction with the Nashville Predators Foundation’s $500,000 pledge.

According to AMEND, one in four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime.

This is a developing story.

Reporters Emily West and Adam Vingan contributed to this report. Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. Reach Emily West at erwest@tennessean.com. Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.

Austin Watson wasn’t dissatisfied with how the Predators played, but he said that momentum played a huge role in Winnipeg’s Game 5 win.
Autumn Allison, USA TODAY NETWORK- Tennessee

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