Austin Watson arrest: Report reveals new details in domestic violence case against Predators forward

UPDATE: Watson's 27-game suspension was reduced to 18 games on Oct. 11

The criminal investigation into Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson started after a witness saw the athlete "swat" his girlfriend outside a gas station and block her from getting out of their Jaguar SUV, newly released police reports show.

Watson, 26, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of domestic assault last week. Police released the investigative file Wednesday — it sheds new light on what happened the night of June 16, when police arrested Watson.

Austin Watson's attorney discusses him pleading no contest Austin Watson's attorney discusses Watson pleading no contest to domestic assault.

The witness was smoking a cigarette when the SUV "pulled up quickly into the gas station parking lot" outside a Murfreesboro Road gas station, according to a Franklin police report.

After the witness saw the couple fighting and flagged down a passing officer, the victim initially denied Watson had touched her. Later in the interview, she said Watson was responsible for causing scratches on her chest.

The 31-year-old victim, who is also the mother of Watson's child, told police that "sometimes he gets handsy," although the report did not elaborate on what that entailed.

Police: Victim feared damage to Watson's NHL career

The victim also urged police not to say anything because it could hurt his career, according to the report.

When police took Watson into custody, "she became extremely upset."

The report also includes descriptions of other wounds the victim suffered: her left shin was bruised and bloody.

The report does not say if Watson was responsible for her injuries.

After Watson's plea, his Williamson County-based attorney Mark L. Puryear III said Watson wanted to remain with the Predators organization.

The Predators said in a statement that the team will cooperate with an internal investigation the NHL launched after Watson pleaded no contest to the charge.

Following his July 24 plea, Watson was placed on judicial diversion, which means if the veteran player abides by the terms of his three-month probation, his case will be expunged. If Watson violates probation, he faces up to a year in jail.

Watson's probation conditions include 26 weeks of a batterer intervention course, an inpatient treatment program for drugs and alcohol and that he maintain peaceful contact with the woman in the case.

In 2017, Watson was one of several Predators team members to participate in a public-awareness campaign titled "Unsilence the Violence." The effort, part of the YWCA's campaign to end violence against women, was in conjunction with the Nashville Predators Foundation's $500,000 pledge.

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Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.