A 19-year-old U.S. college football player has been charged with allegedly assaulting his pregnant girlfriend after she reportedly refused to take an abortion pill.
Carmello Brooks, a defensive lineman for the University of Houston Cougars, was accused of physically confronting his girlfriend, Nariah Harley, during an argument at his apartment in Texas.
According to testimony presented during a court hearing, the confrontation allegedly involved Brooks grabbing Harley, slamming her to the ground and pinning her down. Police who responded to the incident reportedly observed visible injuries on Harley.
However, Harley has disputed the allegation that Brooks intentionally assaulted her and has asked prosecutors to drop the charges.
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What reportedly happened?
Reports indicate that the dispute began after Harley informed Brooks that she was pregnant and refused to take an abortion pill.
During a court hearing, a hearing officer reportedly testified that Brooks squeezed Harley’s arms, picked her up and slammed her to the ground before sitting on her and holding her down.
Brooks has since been charged with assaulting a pregnant person.
The case has attracted attention because of the conflicting accounts surrounding what happened inside Brooks’ apartment.
While authorities reported seeing injuries on Harley, she has defended Brooks and said she does not believe he intentionally harmed her.
Harley told local media that Brooks had repeatedly asked her to leave his apartment but that she refused to go.
She said Brooks eventually picked her up and placed her outside. Harley also claimed that Brooks was the person who called 911 because she would not leave the apartment.
She has reportedly expressed concern that the criminal case could damage Brooks’ football career and said she would feel guilty if the situation ended his athletic future.
University of Houston responds
Following the incident, Brooks was suspended from the University of Houston football team while the matter is being investigated.
The university has acknowledged the allegations and said it is gathering additional information.
A Houston Athletics spokesperson said the school takes allegations of this nature seriously.
Brooks, who is from Katy, Texas, was previously regarded as a promising football prospect. According to reports, he was a three-star recruit in high school and had been ranked among the top defensive linemen nationally before joining the Houston Cougars.
Another case involving a pregnant woman
The latest allegation also comes shortly after Brooks was accused in a separate incident involving another pregnant woman.
According to police reports cited by local media, Brooks allegedly went to the woman’s home in August and became verbally aggressive during a confrontation.
Police also alleged that he attempted to leave with her keys. When the woman closed the door, authorities said the door was damaged during the incident.
Brooks was subsequently charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief in connection with that earlier case.
The separate case adds another legal matter to the current assault allegation, although the circumstances and allegations in the two cases are different.
Brooks’ football future remains uncertain
The allegations have placed Brooks’ college football career under scrutiny as the legal process continues.
His suspension means he is currently away from the Houston football program while university officials review the situation.
For now, the assault allegation remains a legal matter, and Brooks has not been convicted of the charge. Harley’s decision to defend him and request that prosecutors drop the case also adds a significant dimension to the proceedings.
The case is expected to continue through the courts, while the University of Houston conducts its own review.
The allegations against Brooks have generated widespread attention because they involve a pregnant woman, an alleged physical confrontation and a dispute over a pregnancy. At the same time, the conflicting accounts mean that the circumstances surrounding the incident remain contested.
Brooks’ legal case and his status with the Houston football team are therefore likely to remain closely watched as authorities and university officials determine the next steps.
ABC13 Houston – Girlfriend asks court to drop assault charge against UH football player
