Jaxson Hayes, the center for the New Orleans Pelicans, has been charged with domestic violence abuse, resisting arrest, and battery against a police officer in line with a July incident at his Woodland Hills home in which LAPD cops choked him and hit him with a Taser.

In connection with the July incident, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office charged Hayes on Monday with five charges of domestic violence, one count of resisting arrest, one act of battery on an LAPD officer, three counts of vandalism, and one crime of trespassing.

Police were called to Hayes’ home after his girlfriend’s cousin contacted 911 to report that Hayes was “loud and violent” and that his significant other was afraid. According to a video of the incident released last year by LAPD, Hayes and the woman who contacted police informed responding officers that the situation had been calmed when they got on the site.

Hayes was advised to wait outside while the officers spoke with the woman, but he insisted on seeing a search warrant and asked why he couldn’t walk into his own home.

As the argument progressed, an officer informed Hayes that he would be arrested, and two cops attempted to restrain him. According to the video, Hayes pivoted and slammed one of the cops into a wall at the front door of the house. According to officials, the cop sustained an unidentified elbow injury.

Hayes was then put to the ground, when one cop kneeled on his neck and Hayes screamed, “I can’t breathe,” according to the footage. Another officer then struck him in the chest with a Taser.

The LAPD was instantly criticized for the force seen in the video, which appeared to violate department rules. Officers are not allowed to impede or restrict a person’s airway when attempting to apprehend them. According to LAPD protocol, using a Taser on a person’s chest is likewise strictly discouraged.

In the aftermath of the incident, police stated Hayes’ girlfriend declined to help with the investigation, however, an unidentified woman is now identified as the victim in the domestic violence charges made public Monday.

Calls to Hayes’ agent for comment were not returned immediately, and the LAPD did not reply to queries about the case. No one from the Pelicans could be reached for comment.

The district attorney’s office in Los Angeles County declined to seek criminal charges against Hayes last year, attracting the wrath of the union representing rank-and-file officers, which claimed the decision demonstrated suspects can attack cops with impunity.

The district attorney’s office did not immediately reply to a request for a copy of the memo outlining why prosecutors declined to charge Hayes.

On Sunday, Hayes was in New Orleans for the Pelicans’ game against the New York Knicks. On Monday afternoon, the club will face the Indiana Pacers in a game.

Image Credit: Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

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