Broncos player Jonathon Cooper faces new charges, including domestic violence, after another arrest

Cooper was slated to appear in court on Friday
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Police arrested Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper just after 10 p.m. on Thursday night, a week after his arrest related to several charges that include domestic violence. 

Cooper, who pleaded not guilty to the domestic violence charges following his initial arrest, received four new charges Thursday night -- two on domestic violence, one for harassment based on repeated phone calls, and one for violation of a protection order he received when he was arrested on June 4. He was expected in Douglas County court on Friday morning.

"We are disappointed to learn of Jonathon Cooper's arrest on Thursday and continue to review this matter," the Broncos said in a statement

Cooper appeared in Douglas County court on Monday and will return for a motions hearing on July 6. He intends to go to trial, which, according to the Denver Post, is expected to begin on July 22.

That trial could coincide with the start of the Broncos' training camp, which is likely to begin in the last week of July. Cooper's attorney, Harvey Steinberg, said the defense does not intend to file any motions to dismiss and will push to have the trial begin "as early as possible" so Cooper can attend mandatory practices.

Police previously booked Cooper on June 4 on two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief, according to Douglas County Jail records.

The record states that Cooper and an adult female were arrested over a fight regarding phones. The woman involved in the incident claimed Cooper cheated, per the arrest record. The police officers say the woman threw Cooper's phone, and he then bit her phone. Police say both phones were damaged in the exchange.

Cooper and the woman provided conflicting accounts of the incident when questioned by police. Cooper said that he grabbed the woman, identified as his girlfriend, by her upper arm and took his phone. He also said he "braced his neck against her neck" to prevent her from taking it. His girlfriend claimed that Cooper "grabbed her by the neck" and held her against a wall, and she said he picked her up and threw her to the ground several times.

Police noted in the arrest affidavit that the woman's injuries "did not appear consistent with a larger male lifting (her) up into the air by her throat as well as repeatedly being thrown to the ground."

The woman is scheduled to appear in court on June 16 for a pre-trial conference.

"We are aware of the matter and gathering more information," the Broncos said in a statement following Cooper's initial arrest.

The Broncos drafted Cooper, 28, in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year, $60 million extension with Denver in 2024 and has two years remaining on that contract. Last season, Cooper ranked second on the team with eight sacks.

Cooper has been present at the Broncos offseason program and was with the team for last Thursday's OTAs.

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