Kidd Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge

ByABC News
January 19, 2001, 9:36 AM

P A R A D I S E  V A L L E Y, Ariz., Jan. 19 -- Police arrested Phoenix Suns pointguard Jason Kidd after his wife was injured in the climax of adaylong quarrel.

Lt. Ron Warner of the Paradise Valley Police Department saidKidd and his wife, Joumana, had been arguing over the feeding oftheir 2-year-old son, Trey.

Warner said Kidd, 27, acknowledged that he struck his wife about 5:30p.m., resulting in a cut on the inside of her mouth and slightswelling to her lip.

She called the 911 emergency dispatcher, and officers took herhusband into custody, holding him on suspicion of domestic violenceassault, a misdemeanor, until about 9 p.m. when he was released tohis attorney's custody, Warner said.

Court Date Not Yet Set

A Paradise Valley magistrate required that Kidd be in thecustody of a third party until he appears in court again. That datehad yet to be determined late Thursday night.

Kidd, who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney on the gold-medal winning men's basketball team, also was barred from having contact with his wife, Warnersaid.

Joumana Kidd remained at the couple's Paradise Valley homeThursday evening after refusing medical treatment, Warner said.

Suns spokeswoman Julie Fie said late Thursday night she had nodirect information and that comment would be premature.

Police Recently Called to Hardaway’s Home

Last week, the Paradise Valley Police Department droppeddomestic abuse charges against Suns guard Penny Hardaway after hisgirlfriend refused to cooperate in prosecution.

Hardaway, a two time all-NBA recipient, and Kidd, who won thehonor last season, were part of the highly anticipated "Backcourt2000" tandem that was expected to lead the Suns to a championship. Hardaway has been sidelined with persistent knee problems.

Acquired from Dallas in a December 1996 trade, Kidd has 36career triple-doubles, tying with Michael Jordan for sixth in theall-time records. He scored 15 points and provided seven assists asthe Suns (23-13) defeated the SuperSonics (21-20) 89-80 Wednesdaynight in Seattle.