Ugly New Details Emerge In Hope Solo’s “Psychotic” Weekend Arrest
Over the weekend U.S. women’s soccer goalkeeper Hope Solo was arrested for domestic violence after allegedly assaulting two family members at a party thrown just outside of Seattle. Initial reports didn’t paint Solo in a particularly flattering light, and the picture keeps getting uglier as details continue to emerge.
She entered a plea of not guilty at her court appearance on Monday, but released audio of the 911 call made by her 17-year-old nephew and photos of his injuries suggest Solo not entirely innocent. Solo was released without bail following her arrest and ordered to abstain from alcohol and have no contact with her nephew or aunt.
Of course her lawyer maintains a physical assault, at least by Solo, never happened. But that’s what defense attorneys are paid to do.
During the 911 call, a clip of which was obtained and published by TMZ, the desperate caller frantically tells the operator, “Hope Solo is going psychotic … she’s f**king beating people up! … We need help!â€
Police raced to the scene, arriving within minutes to find a drunken Solo agitated after going on what has been widely described as a “rampage.†Solo’s aunt’s injuries were minimal, but her nephew had very visible marks on his head, neck and arms.
According to victim’s statement, the incident began when Solo mistakenly thought the boy was “talking smack†about her, which he said was not true. Solo then lost it on her nephew, screaming that he could never be a professional athletes because he’s “too fat and crazy.â€
Talk about the crazy pot calling the kettle crazy.
The nephew said he attempted to leave the room, but Solo followed him and called him a “p*ssy†because he called his mother. At that point he says, “I then told her to get her c*nt face out of my house,†which is when Solo grabbed his hair and began punching him repeatedly.
He continued, “I then went into a back room and got an old gun that does not work, pointed it at her and she kept coming at me. She didn’t leave but walked around cornering me like a shark.†It’s been widely reported that the broken weapon was a BB gun.
“The boy says Solo eventually left the house when he called the cops — but then tried to get back in the house … and started attacking the boy’s mom… so he grabbed a broomstick and began hitting her in the head … but she kept coming.”
The problem that the 32-year-old Solo is facing is that this is not her first offense. Since breaking out as a superstar in 2011, first appearing naked in ESPN The Magazine’s annual Body Issue and then later starring in Season 13 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, most of the headlines Solo has generated off the pitch have been negative.
Solo’s elimination from DWTS in the fall of 2011 was legendary. Despite making it much further on the show than her awkward, flat-footed stomping should’ve carried her, Solo was very visibly angry about being booted one show before the final and refused to do any of the standard post-elimination press.
The following summer Solo engaged in an ugly and entirely unnecessary public spat with former teammate Brandi Chastain during the 2012 Olympics in London. Unable to handle the slightest bit of criticism, Solo lashed out at Chastain for making relatively mundane observations while serving as an analyst for NBC.
And then, of course, there’s her marriage to former NFL tight end Jerramy Stevens, who is no stranger to domestic assault allegations himself. He was accused of assaulting another student as a senior in high school and was investigated for rape while at the University of Washington.
Criminal charges were never filed in the rape case, but he did settle a civil suit out of court with his accuser. During his professional career, Stevens added a couple of DUIs to his already impressive rap sheet.
Two years ago Stevens was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence against Solo during a party at their residence, but charges were eventually dropped due to insufficient evidence and a non-cooperating victim. The victim, Solo, was obviously eager to put the incident behind them because they married the next day.
They had been dating for just two months.
At this point, Solo’s only option may be to deny all guilt and hope to smooth things over with the family, potentially making them less eager to testify. But there’s no question that her career is now officially in jeopardy.
The U.S. national team has yet to issue a comment, which makes sense since details have been coming at a fast and furious pace. Statement or no, they will likely let this latest incident run its course in the legal system before making a decision about Solo’s future with the team.
If Solo’s luck has finally run out and she is convicted of the charges against her, it’s hard to imagine she’ll be in net for the U.S. during the 2016 FIFA Women’s World Cup or the summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Solo’s future with her pro team, Seattle Reign FC, is also in question, but playing in the NWSL is much different than representing the U.S. during international competition on a global stage.