Olympian gives his Olympian ex-girlfriend a bloody nose at Broward hotel, deputies say
Olympic medalist Fredrick Kerley found himself in trouble with the law yet again Thursday for allegedly punching another Olympian. This comes just a few months after he was arrested for allegedly punching a Miami Beach cop and accused of marital abuse, records show.
His lawyer says Kerley was attacked on Thursday and is looking forward to exoneration.
Around 7:50 p.m., a Broward Sheriff's Office deputy was called to a battery at Le Méridien Dania Beach hotel, 1825 Griffin Road, an arrest report read. The deputy spoke with Olympic hurdler Alaysha Johnson, who told the deputy she was punched in the face by Kerley, 29.
She said she was at the hotel to meet with her conditioning coach when she ran into her ex-boyfriend, Kerley. An argument started and she told the deputy he became 'aggressive' and approached her before saying something similar to 'I'm going to f--- everyone up in here,' the report read.
Then Kerley punched her once, causing her nose to bleed. The deputy noted that her injuries matched her story.
Kerley was arrested and questioned. He refused to answer, but Johnson informed the deputy she and Kerley had been dating for about six months and had been broken up since October.
Authorities also wrote in the report that Kerley was charged with a misdemeanor instead of a civil citation because the two were scheduled to perform at a track and field event, and deputies feared 'that a chance of revictimization might occur.'
Kerley and Johnson joined Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where he won a bronze medal in the 100 meters. They were scheduled to compete in the Grand Slam Track meet, which runs Friday-Sunday at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar. Kerley no longer appears as a competitor on the Grand Slam's website.
According to Broward jail records, Kerley was arrested and booked on Thursday on one count of battery, with his bond still pending. His attorney, Richard Cooper, told the Miami Herald it was a tense situation and Kerley was targeted and attacked.
'Unfortunately, excellence in one's field comes at a price,' Cooper said. 'Fred has had a target on his back for a while now. Jealousy and tensions flared at a meet yesterday, and my client was attacked. We ask for patience as all the facts come to light. We look forward to a dismissal so [Kerley] can keep up his hard work, undistracted.'
This newest charge comes after Kerley was arrested in early January after a Miami Beach scuffle in which he allegedly punched a cop and was also tased and hit.
READ MORE: Olympian punched by Miami Beach cops had choked wife, 'fled' to Paris games, police say
Authorities took the opportunity of the arrest for that scuffle to also charge Kerley with domestic battery by strangulation for a separate fight that happened in May, months before the battle with officers.
Deputies alleged that a fight between Kerley and his wife, who have children together, escalated when he approached her, she punched him, and then he proceeded to choke her.
Cooper said at the time that there was 'never enough' evidence to justify an arrest warrant for the domestic dispute.
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