Domestic violence case charge against Familia dropped

New York Mets baseball pitcher Jeurys Familia walks toward the bench for a hearing at the Fort Lee Municipal Court, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, in Fort Lee, N.J. Domestic abuse charges were dropped against Familia, who appeared in court for a case involving a incident with his wife, Bianca Rivas, on Oct. 31, 2016. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) New York Mets baseball pitcher Jeurys Familia walks toward the bench for a hearing at the Fort Lee Municipal Court, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, in Fort Lee, N.J. Domestic abuse charges were dropped against Familia, who appeared in court for a case involving a incident with his wife, Bianca Rivas, on Oct. 31, 2016. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

By Associated Press December 15, 2016 2 min read

FORT LEE, N.J. (AP) – A judge dismissed a charge Thursday stemming from a domestic violence complaint against New York Mets star relief pitcher Jeurys Familia after the player’s wife told a prosecutor that her husband did not hurt her.

The couple left the New Jersey courthouse and drove off together without talking to reporters.

The 27-year-old, a first-time All-Star this year, faces a possible Major League Baseball suspension if he is found to have violated the sport’s domestic violence policy. The league said in a statement that the investigation is ongoing.

“We are aware of MLB’s investigation into this matter, and we will handle it in the appropriate course,” said attorney Jay Reisinger, who is representing Familia in the league’s probe.

Familia had been charged with simple assault and had pleaded not guilty after his wife, Bianca Rivas, made several frantic 911 calls to Fort Lee police on the morning of Oct. 31 in which she described her husband as “drunk.”