baseball

Josh Hamilton Arrested, Accused of Felony Injury to a Child

Hamilton's family court appearance moved to January 2020; new docs reveal more allegations of abuse

What to Know

  • Protective order filed by ex wife of former Rangers OF Josh Hamilton alleging he's physically harmed at least one of their daughters.
  • Documents obtained by NBC 5 Thursday revealed even more allegations of physical abuse and that previous protective orders were filed.
  • Family court hearing moved from Friday, Nov. 1 to Jan. 8, 2020.

Former Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was arrested Wednesday, accused of hitting one of his daughters with an open hand and closed fist while yelling and swearing at her, police say.

On Thursday, new court documents obtained by NBC 5 reveal even more allegations of physical abuse. Meanwhile, a hearing in family court scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday has been moved to January.

Hamilton, who lives in Keller, was booked into the Tarrant County Jail Wednesday on a charge of felony injury to a child. He was released after posting $35,000 bond.

According to a Tarrant County arrest warrant affidavit obtained by NBC 5, the charge stems from a alleged late-September incident in which Hamilton, 38, physically abused one of his three daughters.

The former 5-time All-Star's two other daughters were in the house at the time of the reported incident, according to the affidavit.

The abuse allegedly began after one of the girls made a comment that upset the former ballplayer on the morning of Sept. 30. The affidavit said Hamilton responded by throwing a full water bottle at his daughter, while swearing and yelling, according to the affidavit.

Hamilton then approached the girl, grabbed a chair which she had her feet propped up on and threw it, the affidavit said. The girl told authorities she was able to mostly move out of the way, but was still struck by part of the chair, which broke.

The affidavit said Hamilton then carried the girl to her room, tossed her down on her bed, pinned her head against the bed and hit her on the legs with an open hand and a closed fist.

After he stopped hitting his daughter, Hamilton is quoted in the affidavit as saying, "I hope you go in front of the (explicit) judge and tell him what a terrible dad I am so I don't have to see you anymore and you don't ever have to come to my house again."

When Hamilton left the room, he told his daughter to get her things together for school, to which she said her belongings were already in the car. Hamilton, again quoted in the affidavit, replied, "Well, aren't you just the perfect child?"

According to NBC 5's media partner The Dallas Morning News, court records show Hamilton's ex-wife, Katie Hamilton, sought a protective order in early October on behalf of one of their three daughters.

Katie Hamilton told an NBC 5 reporter off camera Wednesday that her main priorities are her children, but that she hopes for the best for her ex-husband.

On Thursday, NBC 5 obtained court documents that showed Katie Hamilton filed protective orders against Josh in 2005 in Raleigh, North Carolina and again in 2015 in Texas. In the protective order granted this week, Katie said during a September visit with his children Hamilton had threatened to beat the (expletive) out of one of his daughters.

The documents also revealed a November 2017 incident between Hamilton and one of his daughters where the child was allegedly hit at a basketball game. Katie also alleged Hamilton had used a "wooden rod with metal balls in it to discipline" one of his children.

In yet another case involving a third daughter, Hamilton's ex-wife claims he "grabbed her by her arm and leg and hit her all over" in February.

Hamilton played for the Rangers from 2009-12 and in 2015. He played for the Los Angeles Angels from 2013-14. During his major league career, he also spent a year with the Reds. The Rangers inducted Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP and ALCS MVP, into their Hall of Fame before an August game against the Minnesota Twins. Hamilton was a three-time Silver Slugger and won the league's Lou Gehrig Award in 2013 -- which recognizes the player "who best exemplifies the giving character of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig."

The team issued a statement on the allegations Wednesday afternoon.

"The Texas Rangers take the issue of family violence very seriously. We are aware of the situation involving Josh Hamilton. Since this is an ongoing legal matter, we have no further comment.

Hamilton's children are not in the custody of Child Protective Services, though the DFPS did confirm they are involved in the investigation. CPS said specific details of cases are confidential and that in every case they work closely with law enforcement to investigate and share information.

Hamilton was expected to appear in family court at 9 a.m. Friday but that hearing was rescheduled Thursday for 9 a.m. Jan. 8. There is no word on why the hearing was rescheduled.

This is a developing story, check back for more information.

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