NORTH PORT, Fla. — Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna spoke to the media for the first time since his 2021 arrest for domestic violence charges.
Ozuna reported to the Braves Spring Training on Monday as the World Series champions opened up camp. The outfielder addressed his May arrest and said he will be a better person for the fans.
Ozuna was accused of assaulting and strangling his estranged wife inside his Sandy Springs home in May. She told police that she and her husband were having an argument over infidelity before he choked her and threw her against a wall, according to court documents.
He was originally arrested on one felony charge of aggravated assault by strangulation, however prosecutors dropped the felony charge in July. Ozuna still faced misdemeanor charges of family violence battery and simple assault.
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In September, Ozuna agreed to complete a state’s pre-trial diversion program, which allows offenders to complete requirements prior to a court date in exchange for their case being completely dismissed. Under the agreement, there was a list of conditions that Ozuna had to complete within six months, including a family violence intervention program.
Ozuna told the media Monday that he has completed his program. Channel 2 Action News has reached out to his attorney and Fulton County officials to confirm.
Major League Baseball retroactively suspended the outfielder for 20 games without pay while he was on administrative leave during the investigation.
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Sandy Springs police released the body camera footage of Ozuna’s arrest was released by Sandy Springs police in December
Officers said they entered the home where they witnessed Ozuna grabbing his wife by the neck and throwing her against a wall. Officers say Ozuna also hit his wife with a cast covering his fractured fingers.
Sandy Springs police body camera footage shows Ozuna with his hands on his wife before an officer yells to “get [his] hands off her” while pulling his Taser out and pointing it at Ozuna. The officer then can be heard ordering Ozuna to get on the ground where he leaves the Taser pointed at him.
The officer then asks his wife to step outside of the house and asks a second man seen in the video who he is. The provided body camera footage cuts off before the man answers.
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