Police: Reds prospect knocked girlfriend unconscious with a rock
A Cincinnati Reds prospect finds himself in serious trouble after a late-night altercation in Arizona left his girlfriend unconscious and him behind bars. Tanner Rahier, 21, a second-round draft pick of the Reds in 2012, is accused of throwing a rock at his girlfriend, hitting her in the head and knocking her out.
The cops in Glendale, where the Reds have their spring camp, arrested Rahier after midnight Saturday. According to KPHO, he was booked for felony aggravated assault and one count of assault with intent to injure.
The rock measured eight inches and was considered “a deadly weapon” by police.
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Rahier has denied it all — saying he doesn’t know the woman and that he didn’t throw rocks at her. Police say he’d been drinking when he was arrested. Rahier is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
Here’s more from the scene, via the Arizona Republic:
Glendale police say Rahier got into an argument with a bartender at Pullano’s Pizza and refused to pay his tab. Rahier’s girlfriend led him outside, where he began arguing with her. Rahier started throwing rocks at his girlfriend, police said.
One rock, about 8-inches in diameter, reportedly hit the woman on the left side of her head, caused a deep cut and knocked her unconscious, according to the probable cause statement. Rahier ran from the scene, but police apprehended him close to the restaurant, said Sgt. David Vidaure, a Glendale police spokesman.
Emergency crews transported the woman to the hospital, where she underwent tests and doctors said she may need stitches, police said. She told investigators she’d been dating Rahier for about a month and that their relationship was non-sexual, records show.
The Reds haven’t commented on the matter yet, but don’t be surprised if they just cut Rahier loose, especially given the recent history of athletes being involved in cases like this. Rahier hit .238 last season in Single-A, his second year there, with nine homers. He doesn’t rank among the team’s top prospects, even on the deepest lists.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
