trouble for familia:
Closer Familia faces domestic abuse rap
DO AS JEURYS Familia says, not as he does.
The veteran Mets closer, who just last month spoke out against domestic violence, was arrested at his New Jersey home after cops arrived to find a battered victim with a bruised cheek and a scratched face.
Cops busted Familia after the 2:22 a.m. incident inside the Fort Lee apartment that he shares with wife Bianca Rivas and their 1-year-old son, Jeurys Jr.
The victim’s wounds were visible to the naked eye in the early hours of Halloween, cops said.
“I am deeply disturbed by the allegations against Jeurys Familia and call on MLB to launch an immediate and thorough investigation,” said City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who organized the #NotAFan campaign that featured Familia. “The Familia ads will be removed from the campaign. Last week it was (Giants kicker) Josh Brown, this week it’s Familia. The problem is rampant. The solution is to confront it.”
A criminal complaint against the 27-year-old ace reliever indicated he was released on $1,500 bail and barred from phone, mail or personal contact with the victim — whose identity was withheld.
A Fort Lee cop dispatched to the Familia home early on Halloween noted in the terse six-line complaint that there was “probable cause to believe that domestic violence had occurred.”
The document, filed in Fort Lee municipal court, accuses Familia of “purposely, knowingly or recklessly (causing) bodily injury to another.” He was charged with simple assault.
All-Star hurler Familia rang up 51 saves this past year to boost the Mets into the wild card playoff games against the Giants — where he surrendered a game-losing threerun homer in the ninth inning.
Familia’s agent declined comment on the arrest.
“This is not good,” said one of Familia’s ex-teammates. “Domestic violence is never any good, but even the suggestion of it in the climate we are in is really bad for him. “I hope it turns out it isn’t true for him and his family. But he’s in real trouble right now. This is bad.”
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence campaign also featured ex-Knicks star John Starks, Yankees manager Joe Girardi and Rangers Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert, along with center Kiah Stokes of the Liberty and Lucky Mkosana of the Cosmos.
“I am not a fan of domestic violence,” declared Familia in his Spanish-language ad.
There was no sign of Familia or his family Tuesday at their home across the Hudson River. A doorman said he hadn’t seen the right-hander since after Familia’s Monday morning arrest.
Both the Mets and Major League Baseball issued brief, vague statements as word of the arrest spread.
“The matter was brought to our attention and we are monitoring the situation,” the Mets said in a statement Tuesday.
An MLB spokesman said only that they were “aware of the situation and are investigating facts.”
Even if the case is never prosecuted, Familia could face a suspension like teammate Jose Reyes, who served a 52-game ban to begin the 2016 season after an incident in Hawaii with his wife.