Public Readings - Chad Johnson’s bond set at $2,500 in domestic violence case. Miami Dolphins receiver Chad Johnson, arrested on charges he headbutted his wife Saturday evening, spent the night in county lockup, unable to get a bond hearing until Sunday morning.
Johnson finally did get front of a judge at 8:30 a.m. His bond was set at $2,500, along with an order to have no contact with his wife, reality TV star Evelyn Lozada.
Johnson’s attorney, Fort Lauderdale-based criminal defense lawyer Adam Swickle, said such a restraining order is common practice in domestic violence cases. Swickle said that Lozada was not present in the courtroom Sunday morning. Johnson is expected out of jail in a matter of hours.
Davie Police arrested and charged Johnson Saturday evening with domestic violence, after a heated argument with Lozada turned bloody. Police say Lozada, as the couple were returning to their Davie home after dinner, became upset after finding a receipt for condoms in Johnson’s car.
By the time the couple pulled into their driveway, the argument had escalated, police said, and Lozada told police that Johnson headbutted her.
“She has a pretty good-sized laceration on her forehead,” said Davie Police Capt. Dale Engle.
The couple have been married for a little over a month.
Johnson’s run-in with the law comes at a time that he is already on thin ice with the Dolphins organization, in part due to off-color comments Johnson made during a team news conference last week.
During that press conference, Johnson swore repeatedly, said he smoked marijuana with rock star Gene Simmons during the offseason, and was even considering a second career in pornography.
Johnson’s wife, Lozada, is a celebrity in her own right as a cast member of the reality show Basketball Wives on VH1. She was formerly engaged to onetime Heat player Antoine Walker.\
Johnson’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined to comment.
Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene had only this to say: “We are aware of the situation and in the process of gathering all of the relevant information.”
Raised in Liberty City, Johnson graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School, and the highlight years of his professional football career took place with the Cincinnati Bengals. Last year, playing with the New England Patriots, Johnson seemed permanently out of place, and he posted a sub-par 15 catches for the season.
Throughout his career, Johnson has been known for his playful antics, whether they be elaborate on-field touchdown celebrations or legally changing his name to “Chad Ochocinco” as a nod to his No. 85 football jersey.
This is not Johnson’s first domestic violence arrest. While in college, Johnson got into an altercation with his then-girlfriend Chevon Jex. After neighbors called police, Johnson was placed on probation for the offense, while also forced to take mandatory anger-management classes.