Former Louisville player Valentine charged with strangulation

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (AP) — Louisville police have charged former basketball star Robbie Valentine with strangulation following an argument with his girlfriend.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening in an apartment that Valentine shared with the woman, the warrant states. The couple went out to dinner and the woman wanted to talk to her about moving out and getting her own apartment, the warrant states. After returning home, they got into an argument.

Valentine, 59, allegedly took the woman's cellphone and emptied her purse into the sink, the complaint states. He later threw the woman out of bed and began strangling her, causing her pain and redness on the sides of her neck and bruising on her back, the report added.

The sticky note states that alcohol was involved.

Valentine was initially arrested on a second-degree strangulation charge before the charge was upgraded to first-degree strangulation, a Class C felony, at a court appearance Friday. He posted $2,500 bail and was ordered not to have any contact with the woman.

Valentine is scheduled to appear in Jefferson County District Court for a preliminary hearing on February 20. His attorney, Brian Butler, declined to comment Friday evening.

Valentine played for Louisville from 1982 to 1986 and was a member of the 1986 NCAA championship and 1983 Final Four teams. He is a member of the Louisville Athletics Hall of Fame.

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