New England Patriots

Ex-Patriots defensive lineman suffers stab wound in alleged domestic dispute

Published Sep. 1, 2016 5:49 p.m. ET

foxsports

Former New England Patriots defensive lineman Frank Kearse was treated Wednesday at a Rhode Island hospital after suffering a minor knife wound allegedly inflicted by his girlfriend during an argument.

Kearse, 27, sustained a knife wound to the upper abdomen, according to a police report filed Thursday and obtained by The Sun Chronicle. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound lineman was released by the Patriots last week after playing the past two seasons with the Redskins.

Kearse's girlfriend, Dominique Hooper, pleaded not guilty to assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and domestic assault and battery. She appeared in court Thursday, was released on $1,000 bound and is scheduled to be back in court Sept. 30.

According to the police report, Kearse told hospital officials he suffered the injury while moving a cardboard box full of knives and one of the knives punctured the box, causing the wound. Hooper told detectives the same story, but neighbors told authorities that they heard an argument from the couple's apartment.

When detectives approached Hooper regarding the neighbors' account, she admitted to brandishing the knife and told police Kearse used a cardboard box to defend himself when the injury occurred, according to the police report.