Broward County prosecutors will not file criminal charges against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman related to a domestic dispute in October with his girlfriend, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Thursday.
"We are all pleased that the Davie Police Department and the Office of the State Attorney took the time to fully investigate the matter and have concluded that charges were not warranted," Chapman's lawyer, Paul Molle, said after being notified of the prosecutors' decision.
MORE: Chapman incident raises questions about MLB domestic violence policy
Chapman, who had pitched for the Reds since defecting from Cuba in 2009, was traded to the Yankees in December. News of the domestic incident reportedly undid a trade between the Reds and Dodgers.
Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner on Wednesday at MLB's owners meetings praised his team's acquisition of Chapman, warning that he was "innocent until proven otherwise."
According to a police report, Chapman's girlfriend, Christina Barnea, complained that he pushed her and choked her during an argument Oct. 30 in Davie. Police did not make any arrests at the time because of inconsistencies among statements from Chapman, Barnea and Barnea's brother.
Despite Thursday's good news, Chapman — who has been named the Yankees' closer entering spring training — is expected to be suspended for the start of the 2016 season under MLB's new domestic violence policy, implemented toward the end of 2015.
