BRASELTON, Ga. (WXIA) – The ex-girlfriend of an NFL player from Georgia is accused of slashing his arm and breaking a woman's arm with a baseball bat.
According to Braselton Police, Erica Palmer, who has two children with Indianapolis Colts linebacker Erik Walden, was arrested on numerous charges after the incident.
Police say Palmer suspected that Walden was seeing another woman. On March 14, according to police, she parked her car about a mile from Walden's home and -- with their two children still in the vehicle -- walked to the house and broke in through a back door.
Braselton Assistant Police Chief Lou Solis says Walden and a female companion were not at the home. They'd gone out to get something to eat. At about 11:30 p.m., Solis says, Walden and the woman returned to his home, and Palmer was waiting for them, sitting on a couch armed with the gun Walden kept in the house, and a baseball bat.
Walden was able to wrestle the gun away from Palmer, but, Solis says, she was swinging the bat and she struck the other woman, breaking her arm. Palmer then ran away, Solis says.
Police arrived at the home in response to Walden's 911 call. After investigating the scene and taking statements, police left.
Walden had told them he would take his friend to the hospital and didn't need an ambulance. But as the two were about to back out of the driveway, Solis says, Palmer reappeared from some nearby woods and ran up to the car. Walden got out and ended up struggling again with Palmer. Solis says Palmer had a knife, this time, and she cut Walden's arm, then ran away again.
Police tracked her cell phone to a hotel near the Mall of Georgia, and they arrested her.
Palmer is charged with multiple crimes, including burglary, and several counts of aggravated assault.
She is being held at the Hall County Jail.
The children have been placed in the care of Walden.
Walden, who was treated and released from the hospital, is a current player with the Indianapolis Colts. According to his bio on the Colts website, he is from Dublin, Ga. and played for Middle Tennessee State. He's been in the NFL for eight years and in addition to the Colts, has played with the Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys. He led Dublin High to a 14-1 record and a state title game in 2002.
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