7:04 am | July 19, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The NFL said it can’t determine whether Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill violated the league’s personal conduct policy and will not suspend him with regard to its recent child-abuse investigation.
Friday’s announcement follows allegations of physical abuse toward Hill’s ex-fiancée, Crystal Espinal, and son.
“Based on the evidence presently available, the NFL cannot conclude that Mr. Hill violated the Personal Conduct Policy,” the NFL said in a statement. “Accordingly, he may attend Kansas City’s training camp and participate in all club activities. He has been and will continue to be subject to conditions set forth by the District Court, Commissioner [Roger] Goodell, and the Chiefs, which include clinical evaluation and therapeutic intervention.”
The league left open the possibility of revisiting Hill’s case should further information come out through police.
Hill, 25, will be eligible to participate when the Chiefs begin training camp July 27 at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph.
Earlier this month, Kansas City station 610 KCSP aired the full audio recording of an argument between Hill and Espinal in which the wide receiver denied committing assault and battery against Espinal — a charge he pleaded guilty to in August 2015.
During the argument, Espinal accused Hill of abusing the couple’s 3-year-old son, who had suffered a broken arm. The boy’s injury led to an investigation into possible child abuse, but Hill was not charged with a crime, as the district attorney’s office announced in April that it could not determine how the injuries were inflicted.
The NFL said it was not given access to information in the court proceedings.
“Local law enforcement authorities have publicly advised that the available evidence does not permit them to determine who caused the child’s injuries,” the league said.
A partial recording of Hill and Espinal’s argument was broadcast in April by television station KCTV5 and led to the wide receiver being barred from the Chiefs’ facility.
Hill had an eight-hour meeting with NFL investigators on June 26 to discuss the case involving his son. A league source told ESPN’s Dan Graziano earlier this month that NFL investigators had heard the full recording and were factoring it into their discussions on potential discipline for Hill.
“Throughout this investigation, the NFL’s primary concern has been the well-being of the child,” the league said Friday. “Our understanding is that the child is safe and that the child’s ongoing care is being directed and monitored by the Johnson County District Court and the Johnson County Department for Children and Families.”
The Kansas Department of Children and Families has been looking into possible child abuse, battery or neglect.
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