Kings' Voynov Suspended After Arrest On Domestic Violence Charges
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has been suspended indefinitely from all club activities pending a formal investigation by the National Hockey League of an arrest on charges of domestic violence, team officials announced.
KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports Voynov was arrested at 12:45 a.m. Monday morning at Little Company of Mary Hospital and booked on a felony domestic violence charge, according to Redondo Beach Police Lt. Joe Hoffman.
Police received a 911 call on Sunday night from a neighbor, who reported hearing screaming. Officers were unable to figure out where the reported screaming may have come from.
A few hours later, Voynov, a resident of Redondo Beach, took the victim - who was identified only as an adult female - to the hospital, where an ER nurse noticed the nature of the injuries and notified police, Hoffman told reporters.
Officers were sent to the hospital and determined that a crime had occurred at a home along the 800 block of Avenue C, said Hoffman. A child was present at the home when the crime allegedly occurred, according to Hoffman.
Officers say that Voynov was cooperative at the time of his arrest.
A woman with apparent injuries was spotted getting out of an SUV and entering Voynov's home on Monday afternoon.
In a statement, league officials cited a section of the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement, which "provides that, during a pending criminal investigation, the league may suspend the player pending the league's formal review and disposition of the matter where the failure to suspend the player during this period would create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the league."
Voynov, 24, will continue to be paid during the investigation, officials said.
Neighbors and friends say they are surprised at the accusations.
"My experience with hockey players is that they're so nice when they are off the ice that I'm really surprised to see that this has happened," Redondo Beach resident Lee Berry, wife of former Kings coach Bob Berry, said.
Craig Renetzky, the attorney representing Voynov, told The Associated Press that Voynov hasn't yet been charged with a crime. His next court date is Dec. 1, Renetzky said.
Voynov was released on $50,000 bail.
In response to the arrest, the L.A. Kings released the following statement: "These developments are of great concern to our organization. We support the NHL's decision to suspend Slava Voynov indefinitely during this process, and we will continue to take appropriate action as the legal proceedings and the investigation by the NHL take their course."
A native of Chelyabinsk, Russia, Voynov was one of only four Kings to play in all 82 games during the 2013-14 season. He was the youngest member of Team Russia at the 2007 World Junior Championships and competed again for Russia in 2008.
The former second round pick signed a six-year, $25 million contract with the Kings last June.
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