Mets Pitcher, Who Starred In Anti-Domestic Violence Ads, Charged With Domestic Violence

Jeurys Familia, an All-Star closing pitcher for the New York Mets who recently appeared in an ad campaign against domestic violence, was arrested for domestic violence on Monday, the Bergen Record reports. 

Fort Lee, New Jersey, police accused Familia, identified as Jeurys F. Mojica, of causing “bodily injury to another,” according to a complaint posted Tuesday by The Record. The victim, whose name is redacted from the complaint, had “visible injuries, specifically a scratch to the chest and bruise to the right cheek.”

Familia, 27, was arrested after an officer who responded to the incident “found probable cause to believe domestic violence had occurred,” the complaint states. The athlete was charged with simple assault, and bail was set at $1,500. 

In a statement to The Record, the Mets said, “The matter was brought to our attention and we are monitoring the situation.”

Familia was among a number of athletes who recently starred in an ad campaign sponsored by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

In the video below, Familia, a native of the Dominican Republic, says in Spanish that he's “not a fan” of domestic violence.

New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito helped launch the #NotAFan campaign, which also features Yankees manager Joe Girardi, former New York Knicks star John Starks, New York Liberty rising star Kiah Stokes, hockey Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert, and others. 

Mark-Viverito said Tuesday that she was “deeply disturbed by the allegations” against Familia and called on Major League Baseball to conduct a thorough investigation. 

“We created #NotAFan so fans can communicate that domestic violence is absolutely unacceptable and to give a voice to fans who didn't have one before. I will be reaching out to the Mets and the Familia ads will be removed from the campaign,” Mark-Viverito said in a statement.

Familia's photos were indeed gone from the campaign website on Tuesday.

The pitcher signed with the Mets in 2007 and made $4.1 million this season, according to MLB.com. 

In August of last year, MLB announced a new domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. Since then, three players have been suspended.

On Halloween 2015, then-Colorado Rockies shortstop José Reyes was arrested in Hawaii after allegedly assaulting his wife, Katherine Ramirez. The domestic abuse charge was eventually dropped. Still, MLB suspended the infielder 51 games without pay. Reyes has since signed with the Mets. 

Aroldis Chapman, now a closing pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, received a 30-day suspension in March following an October 2015 incident in which he reportedly hit and choked girlfriend Cristina Barnea in his home before firing off eight gunshots in the garage. 

And in May, Atlanta Braves outfielder Hector Olivera received an 82-game suspension after he was arrested in April at a hotel outside of Washington, D.C., and charged with assault and battery of a woman.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

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