Predators' Austin Watson Arrested For Domestic Assault

As first reported by the , Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson was arrested Saturday and charged with domestic assault after he argued with his girlfriend at a gas station and shoved her. A witness flagged down a Franklin PD car around 7 p.m. to report “a possible domestic situation,” and the officer said that when he checked out the tip, he saw a woman “back away from being shoved away.”

Watson was in the driver’s seat of his car, and his girlfriend, who was not named in the report, was in the passenger’s seat. The couple, who had a baby in April, reportedly argued over “her drinking and not being able to attend a wedding.” The officer said he noticed “red marks” on the victim’s chest, and when asked, Watson admitted to shoving her. “The passenger said ‘stop’ and was trying to cover her face,” the officer reportedly said in the affidavit.

The Predators released a statement today acknowledging Watson’s arrest:

We are aware of the incident involving Austin Watson on Saturday night. We are still gathering facts and it is not appropriate for us to comment further at this time, but this is a matter that we are taking very seriously and will cooperate fully with the investigation by law enforcement. The Nashville Predators have and will continue to stand side by side with AMEND in the fight to end violence against women.

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