LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Editor's note: This story contains an account of alleged dating violence and may not be suitable for all audiences.
Police officers arrested a Louisville football player on Sunday.
Tayon Holloway, 20, is charged with strangulation and assault, both domestic violence related.
According to the arrest citation, University of Louisville (UofL) police were sent to a residence at the Province after someone called 911 and hung up. The dispatcher said the victim did call back and said they were away from the trouble, but was crying.
When officers arrived, they found everyone inside of the apartment was uncooperative and refused to tell officers anything according to the citation, but did let them search the space.
The citation shows a witness did contact one of the officers; when that officer went to a nearby apartment, they made contact with the victim.
The officer said they saw a cut on the victim's lip, and her eyes were puffy. She said the incident started when Holloway had gone into his room to smoke marijuana, and the victim had grabbed it.
She said that's when Holloway had gotten angry and threw her off the bed and began punching her in the face while she was on the ground.
The victim tried to shield herself with a lamp, but Holloway was able to put a pillow over the victim's face according to the citation.
After what felt like 10 seconds to the victim, the citation shows the suspect took the pillow off her face and started throwing and pushing her out towards the apartment exit.
She tried to protect herself with a mirror, but documents show that mirror ended up breaking.
A UofL football spokesperson sent the following statement to WHAS11 News:
“The University of Louisville is aware of the arrest of football student-athlete Tayon Holloway. As we gather more information, Tayon has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities."
Holloway played a role in Louisville’s loss at Stanford on Saturday.
The moment happened near the end of the fourth quarter as Stanford was driving. Holloway was flagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that moved the ball close enough for Stanford to kick the eventual game-winning field goal.
Stanford beat then No. 22 Louisville 38-35.
Holloway has 16 tackles and one sack on the year. He transferred from North Carolina before the season.
He was booked at Metro Corrections.
Holloway was arraigned Monday morning in Jefferson County District Court. Bond was set at $10,000 and he was ordered not to have contact with the woman.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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