COPS: THREATS, TORTURE BY BIRD
Celtic allegedly abused girlfriend
A backup guard for the Boston Celtics threatened to kill himself in a text message to his 20-year-old girlfriend after she escaped four hours of physical torture in his Brighton apartment, according to police reports released yesterday.
Jabari C. Bird, 24, the Celtics’ second-round draft pick last year, was ordered held on $100,000 bail, which Brighton District Court Judge David Donnelly split into $50,000 cash and $50,000 surety — the latter due only if Bird goes on the lam.
“Unless you’re a drug dealer, you don’t have $100,000 lying around!” Bird’s attorney Brian Kelly protested to Donnelly.
Bird was released yesterday afternoon after a $50,000 cashier’s check was posted. He pleaded not guilty to strangulation, kidnapping and assault charges. Donnelly ordered him to return Oct. 25 for a pretrial conference.
Bird’s accuser claims Bird strangled her 12 times after a quarrel, threw her against a wall, dragged her around by the ankles, kicked her and held her against her will for four hours Friday afternoon, later texting her that he would kill himself if she didn’t come back, according to court documents.
Assistant Suffolk District Attorney Khyati Short said the accuser told police she was at Bird’s home “when she was assaulted for a period of about four hours by the defendant.”
“During the argument, the defendant began strangling her using one of his hands, and also threw her against a wall,” Short said. “After that, he began strangling her with two hands, approximately a dozen times.”
Short said Bird would throttle the accuser until “she went limp,” then start the torment all over again once she caught her breath. “She did lose consciousness at one point for a few seconds, and when she awoke found herself on the floor under the defendant’s bed. When she stuck her head out he began to kick her multiple times,” Short said.
If convicted, Bird could face up to 10 years in state prison.
Hours after release, Bird released a statement: “I’m taking some time away from the team as I deal with my legal and medical issues. I apologize to my family, the Celtics organization, my teammates, the fans and the NBA for the unnecessary distraction that I have caused. The information that has been released does not tell the full story. I do not condone violence against women. I am hopeful that in due time and process, I will be able to regain everyone’s trust.”
The Celtics also released a statement: “Most importantly, our thoughts are with the victim in this incident. The Celtics organization deplores domestic violence of any kind . ... Matters of this kind are handled by the League Office, not the team . ... The team will have no further comment at this time.”