Seattle LB Leroy Hill arrested on assault charges

ISSAQUAH, WASH. (AP) - Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill was arrested after police say he assaulted his girlfriend and kept her in his home against her will.

According to a release from the Issaquah Police Department on Wednesday morning, Hill was arrested on investigation of unlawful imprisonment-domestic violence and third-degree assault-domestic violence. According to King County Jail records, Hill was booked into the Seattle correctional facility early Wednesday afternoon.

Both charges are felonies in Washington state. It’s at least the fourth time Hill, 30, has been arrested and the second time he’s been accused of domestic violence.

Police said they responded to Hill’s home around 4 p.m. Tuesday. A 26-year-old said she had been assaulted several times and was kept in Hill’s home against her will. The women told police that Hill blocked the doorway and took her cellphone. She was able to escape the home when Hill used the bathroom, police said.

She was treated at a hospital and released. A Seahawks spokesman said the team is aware of the situation.

Hill played last season on a one-year contract with the Seahawks. He played in 13 games, starting 12, and recorded 47 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks. Hill is one of two players still on the Seahawks roster from their lone Super Bowl appearance when they lost to Pittsburgh. He’s played all eight NFL seasons with the Seahawks and has started 89 of 97 games in his Seattle career.

Hill is scheduled to become a free agent this offseason.

For much of his career, off-field problems have followed Hill. He was arrested less than a year ago for marijuana possession in Atlanta, but the charge was later dismissed. His first arrest came in 2009 in Georgia for marijuana possession where he was sentenced to 12 months of probation.

Then in April 2010, Hill was arrested by Issaquah police on a fourth-degree assault-domestic violence charge. Hill avoided trial on that charge after agreeing to a stipulated order of continuance that required him to avoid legal troubles for 18 months and complete a one-year, state-certified domestic violence treatment program.

Issaquah prosecutor Lynn Moberly said Wednesday that Hill’s previous domestic violence case had closed and the latest arrest has no influence on his previous deal.

Hill was suspended by the NFL for two games during the 2010 season.

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