Chris Rainey Mugshot

 

UPDATE: Per Adam Schefter via twitter, the Steelers have released Chris Rainey.

Former Gator and current Pittsburgh Steelers RB Chris Rainey was arrested Thursday morning after Gainesville police received a 911 call from a witness who said an argument had turned physical around 8:30am, according to Gainesville Police Department spokesman Ben Tobias.

Witnesses told police that Rainey and the female victim began arguing over the running back's cell phone. The victim got in the vehicle belonging to Rainey's roommate when the former Gator standout confronted her on the passenger side and began pulling the victim out of the vehicle.

Witnesses then say they observed Rainey slapping the victim across the face with an open hand.

According to multiple witnesses that confirmed the incident, Rainey and the female both fell to the ground and the female was able to run away. The former Gator standout began chasing her because the victim was carrying a bad which contained his cellphone. Rainey grabbed the bag, and the couple fell to the ground again.

Neither party suffered visible injuries from the incident. 

This is not Rainey's first run-in with the law in regards to a domestic issue. While a member of the Florida Gators football team, Rainey was arrested in 2010 for aggravated stalking after he allegedly sent an ex-girlfriend a threatening text message.