8-14-02
From the San Antonio Express News on 8/13/02 6pm:
Pro wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin surrendered to authorities
today after an arrest warrant was issued based on a domestic
violence complaint filed by his wife earlier this year.
According to court documents, a judge signed off on the
arrest warrant Monday after reviewing a police incident report
and a complaint filed by Williams' wife, Debra - also a former
wrestling personality.
The former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar, whose
real name is Steve Williams, was accompanied by his lawyers
to a small booking room located in the basement of the Bexar
County Courthouse this afternoon.
There, he was officially charged with an assault that
caused bodily injury. Williams, 37, was booked and fingerprinted
shortly before posting a $5,000 bond.
About a dozen courthouse employees were seen standing
around in the hallway in hopes of catching a glimpse of the
6-foot-2, 260-pound wrestling star who makes his home in the
San Antonio area.
"Nothing happened," Williams said as he left the room
and headed toward the courthouse's exit with two lawyers.
"I rather not comment right now."
Debra Williams could not be reached for comments.
A police report indicates that Debra called police around
4 a.m. June 15. The officer who responded to the Williams'
Dominion estate found the wife at the front of the house crying.
The officer noted seeing "a large noticeable welt" on the
right side of her face - just below her eye.
The wrestler left the house before police arrived but
later spoke to the responding officer by phone. Williams declined
to return to the house despite the officer's urging.
The Police Department forwarded the case to the Bexar
County district attorney's officer, which pursued the case
and presented it to the judge this week.
The case has been assigned to Judge Bill White's County
Court-at-Law 7, but an appearance date for the wrestler has
not been set.
In June, in Austin's world of professional wrestling,
officials at World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., headquartered
in Stamford, Conn., charged that their featured TV attraction
had failed to show up as scheduled at two events and "is no
longer an active member of WWE's talent roster."
Debra Williams, who became a wrestling personality in
1997, married Austin last year in Las Vegas. The wrestler,
who is on his third marriage, became one of the biggest stars
in pro wrestling history when his "Stone Cold" character took
off in 1997.
Tune in Friday to Chairshots for more updates and commentary.
