The NFL took action on Saturday by placing Colts tight end Drew Ogletree on the commissioner’s exempt list following his arrest on Friday afternoon on charges related to domestic violence.
Players placed on the exempt list are prohibited from practicing or attending games.
Ogletree’s arrest occurred in Hendricks County, Indiana, after officers in Avon, a suburb of Indianapolis, pursued a warrant following their investigation into a disturbance at a residence on Tuesday night.
According to jail records, Ogletree faces two Level 6 felony charges: domestic violence committed in the presence of a child under 16 years old and domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury. Level 6 felonies carry a maximum penalty of 2½ years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
As of early Saturday afternoon, Ogletree remained in custody with no bond.
Avon police reported that officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence on Tuesday involving Ogletree and a woman.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the first officer on the scene found the woman upstairs in a bedroom, crying and in pain.
The woman alleged that during an argument over messages on Ogletree’s phone, he “body slammed” her to the ground and stood over her, saying, “They will never believe you.”
Drew Ogletree (Credits: NFL)
The incident reportedly occurred while the woman was on the phone with her sister, who subsequently called the police.
The woman was transported to the hospital by ambulance, where photographs of her injuries, including swelling on her back, were taken, as noted in the affidavit. The altercation took place while Ogletree’s young son was present in the home.
Following an investigation, an arrest warrant was issued on Thursday, and Ogletree turned himself in to the Hendricks County Jail on Friday.
On Friday, the Colts issued a statement addressing the situation and describing the allegations as “disturbing.”
“The team takes these matters seriously,” the Colts stated. “We have notified the NFL and are in the process of gathering more information. We will have no further comment at this time.”
Ogletree, a sixth-round draft pick in 2022, missed his entire rookie season due to a torn ACL. This season, he has appeared in 12 games, recording nine receptions for 147 yards and two touchdowns. He has been on the field for 40% of the Colts’ offensive snaps and 33% of their special teams snaps.
Efforts to contact an attorney representing Ogletree were unsuccessful.
The Colts, currently competing for a playoff spot in the AFC, are scheduled to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday in a crucial game for their postseason aspirations.
