Soy Sauce & Underwear Rumble Outs Ex-NFL Player
A former San Francisco 49er offensive tackle has been charged with felony domestic violence and assault charges after allegedly attacking his ex-boyfriend in August after the two men fought over soy sauce and underwear, the San Mateo (Calif.) Daily Journal reports.
According to Deadspin, Harris "now joins a pretty amazingly short list of former NFL players who we know to have been involved in a gay relationship. Welcome aboard! Not the best way of putting the news out, though."
Kwame Harris, who also played for the Oakland Raiders, was scheduled to appear in court Monday on charges he assaulted his former partner after arguing about soy sauce and underwear. Apparently Harris, 30, was planning to drive his ex, Dimitri Geier, to San Francisco International Airport on Aug. 12, of last year but things went south when the two met at a Chinese restaurant in Menlo Park, Calif., (about 31 miles south of San Francisco) and Geier poured soy sauce on a plate of rice.
According to the suit filed in San Mateo Country Superior Court, the men argued for seven minutes over the condiment before the athlete said he refused to take Geier to the airport. As the men were removing Geier's luggage from Harris' car, Harris allegedly tried to pull down the ex-boyfriend's pants and accused him of stealing his underwear.
The lawsuit also states Geier tried to push Harris but failed. He allegedly hit him three times in the face, which only made Harris "seemed only to grow more agitated." Harris then allegedly violently shook Geier and punched him in the face as well as arm several times.
The former football player then allegedly tossed Geier's belongings out of the car and drove off. Instead of heading to the airport, Geier hailed a cab and went to the emergency room. Geier had to undergo surgery to repair his broken orbital bones and needed a metal plate to repair the damage.
Harris, who was later arrested at his home but posted $75,000 bail, pleaded not guilty. His attorney, Alin Cintean, claims Geier threw the first punch and Harris was charged because Geier was injured.
"This really is a pure self-defense case," Cintean said. "He was attacked." Cintean added that Geier is only looking to down his former flame for money. "We're looking forward to having this proven in court and clearing his name," the lawyer said.
Geier's lawsuit denies all claims. He, in turn, is suing Harris in civil court for assault, battery, false imprisonment negligence and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
If the former NFL player is convicted he could serve up to seven years in prison.