Julio Urías police investigation complete, L.A. County D.A.'s office reviewing for charges
After months of investigation by authorities, the case of Julio Urías’ arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence has finally moved to its next stage.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has received a completed investigation from law enforcement for review, according to spokesperson Tiffiny Blacknell, meaning the D.A.’s office will now decide whether or not to charge the 27-year-old pitcher for what happened the night of Sept. 3.
On the night in question, Urías was arrested outside an LAFC game at BMO Stadium after a person alerted police that a man and a woman were involved in a physical altercation, according to a report from the Exposition Park Department of Public Safety.
Per the report, Exposition Park police officers approached Urías and the woman and “determined a physical altercation had occurred." Urías was then arrested and booked into custody with the Los Angeles Police Department. He was released early the next morning on $50,000 bail.
Read more: Julio Urías is a free agent but legal issues cloud his status
Urías, who was a 2020 World Series champion with the Dodgers and one of their most important pitchers during the 2023 season, was put on administrative leave by Major League Baseball on Sept. 6 and did not appear with the team again.
The long-term prospects of Urías' career remain unclear. The left-hander became a free agent this offseason, but probably needs the legal process to play out before learning whether — or how severely — he will be punished by MLB.
Even if Urías isn’t charged, he could still face discipline from MLB, which is expected to interview Urías as part of its own investigation once legal proceedings are complete.
In 2019, Urías was suspended 20 games under MLB’s domestic violence policy after he was arrested — but not charged — on misdemeanor suspicion of domestic violence.
No player has ever been suspended twice under the league’s policy, which was created in 2015.
During the extended investigation into this year's incident, which was handled by California Department of Public Safety officers, authorities sought out eyewitnesses and obtained cellphone video captured by a bystander of the alleged incident, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.
There is no timeline for the D.A.'s office to decide on charges, according to Blacknell.
Read more: Julio Urías was a hero and likely Dodgers Game 1 starter. Now, it's as if he never existed
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
