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John Bowlen placed on indefinite leave after arrest
Mike Klis and Robert Garrison, KUSA 4:40 p.m. MDT June 4, 2015
(Photo: KUSA)
KUSA - John Bowlen Jr., son of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, was arrested Wednesday night on domestic violence harassment charge and was held overnight in jail.
Bowlen was also charged with interference of a phone call.
The Denver Broncos placed Bowlen, who is listed as a corporate partnerships coordinator for the team, on indefinite leave of absence Thursday.
"We are disappointed to learn of the matter involving John Bowlen, who is a son of Owner Pat Bowlen and an administrative employee with the organization," the Broncos said in a statement. "While this is a personal issue, he is accountable to all club and league conduct policies. As such, John will be placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the organization."
Wearing an orange jumpsuit and flanked by attorney Harvey Steinberg, Bowlen appeared in Arapahoe County Court via video monitor from the Arapahoe County Jail on Thursday afternoon.
Bowlen was in the process of getting released Thursday evening on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond with conditions. Judge Ben Leutwyler allowed the victim's request that Bowlen and the victim can continue to have contact with each other, although they cannot cohabitate. After district attorney Jay Williford pointed out prior charges against Bowlen involving alcohol and marijuana, Leutwyler set other protective order conditions of monitored sobriety and no possession of firearms.
"I expect he'll be out by 7 and then we'll see where the case goes," Steinberg said in the parking lot following the hearing.
Bowlen's next court hearing was set for July 6.
Glendale police were dispatched around 10 p.m. to a high-rise apartment at 4550 Cherry Creek Drive South. The 29-year-old Bowlen is accused of shoving his girlfriend against a bathroom wall while she was attempting to call 911.
The victim's name was published in the Glendale police report but during Bowlen's court hearing, Williford asked that her name be redacted. Steinberg argued that because Bowlen and his girlfriend will be allowed to continue to see each other, there isn't the fear element in the relationship that would warrant the redaction.
The judge allowed the motion that the victim's name be redacted. (KUSA initially published the victim's name based on the Glendale police report, but removed her name following the court motion).
The girlfriend told police she was trying to call for help after Bowlen made comments about killing someone he had a prior conflict with, according to a Glendale police report. The report states the victim told police that Bowlen was under the influence of alcohol and "whippits," a nitrous oxide-filled cartridge inhaled to get a high.
Bowlen became "enraged" when his girlfriend told him she was calling for help after he made the alleged threats, the report reads. The victim claims Bowlen forcefully grabbed her shoulders and shoved her against the wall, which caused her to drop her cell phone that was connected to 911.
A 911 operator called the cell phone back after the call was disconnected. Bowlen answered and told the operator, "This is the owner of the Denver Broncos. I am sorry K. Nothing is wrong. This is John Bowlen: Johnny Bowlen," according to the police report.
When police arrived at the Glendale apartment, the report states Bowlen told responding officers, "I didn't do anything wrong! I didn't do anything, and I'm going to call Harvey (Steinberg)."
No other Bowlen family members appeared in court Thursday. Steinberg said he told family members not to show up because Bowlen was to appear only by video from jail and media may be present in the courtroom.
Bowlen is one of seven Bowlen children under consideration to replace his father as team owner. Pat Bowlen stepped aside from his leadership role last July as he revealed he is battling Alzheimer's disease. Currently the team is held in the Pat Bowlen Trust with chief executive officer Joe Ellis among the three trustees overseeing the team.
"It's his hope that one of the children will come along and run the team someday and it's my hope that it's sooner rather than later," Ellis said May 13 at a press conference to announce Pat Bowlen's election into the team's Ring of Fame. "There are some particular things that Pat wanted to see out of his children and we as trustees are watching and monitoring that."
Last year, the Broncos became one of the first teams to hold mandatory domestic violence training for all of their employees, including John Bowlen.
(KUSA-TV © 2015 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)
http://www.9news.com/story/sports/nfl/denver-broncos/2015/06/04/broncos-john-bowlen/28482803/
Meanwhile...
http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/washington-redskins-jamison-crowder-alleged-domestic-abuse-060415
Pic of alleged abuse:
