NFL ref under investigation for domestic violence
An NFL line judge is under investigation for domestic violence, the league confirmed Tuesday following a report from TMZ Sports.
Carl Johnson, a line judge and the league's former vice president of officiating, has been accused of physical violence against a 49-year-old woman. The woman says she alerted the NFL in March and took her case to the police months after.
In one alleged incident, the accuser says Johnson hit her so hard that one of her breast implants ruptured. She says she has photographic and audio evidence to support her claims.
"The matter is under review under the league's personal conduct policy," an NFL spokesman told Kevin Seifert of ESPN.
The case is still being investigated in Louisiana, according to TMZ Sports. At one point, the woman was granted a temporary restraining order against Johnson, but a later request to make it permanent was rejected.
Johnson stepped down from his role as head of officials in 2012 to return to in-game duties, becoming the league's first full-time official. He served in the VP role for two years.
Sources told TMZ he denies the allegations.