Stefon Diggs Accused of Choking Female Chef, Then Throwing Her on Bed for Requesting Back Pay: Police

NEED TO KNOW

• Stefon Diggs is accused of assaulting his chef on Dec. 2 after the two argued over back pay she claimed was owed to her, according to a police report obtained by PEOPLE
• The chef did not report the alleged incident until Dec. 16, and did not decide to formally press charges until Dec. 23, according to the police report
• Diggs has yet to speak publicly about the matter, but his lawyer tells PEOPLE that he "categorically denies the allegations"

The woman accusing Stefon Diggs of assault alleges that the New England Patriots player became upset after she insisted on being compensated for her services as a private chef.

The incident allegedly happened on Dec. 2 at Diggs' $2.5 million home in Dedham, Mass., a suburb of Boston located just 15 miles south of the city.

Diggs' private chef at the time alleged that she approached him about back pay she claimed he owed her, and things quickly escalated, according to a police report obtained by PEOPLE.

The woman told police that she was in her bedroom when Diggs walked in after the two had "been having an ongoing text exchange over money owed to [her]."

Diggs and the woman began to discuss the matter, which "apparently angered" the NFL star, she alleged in her interview.

She alleged that Diggs then "smacked her across the face," and she pushed him away, according to the report.

Diggs is then accused of again attacking the woman, who alleged in her interview with police that he "tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck."

She told police that she "did have trouble breathing and could've blacked out," and also alleged that "as she tried to pry [Diggs'] arm away, he tightened his grip."  

Diggs allegedly released her at some point and "threw her on the bed," the woman claimed, according to the report.

She alleged that Diggs then left the bedroom and said, "Thought so."

The woman left the home that night but did not speak to police until Dec. 16, and said she was initially hesitant to file a formal report.

On Dec. 23, however, she had a change of heart, and contacted police to inform them she wished to press charges, according to the report.

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Diggs, who is in his first year of a three-year, $69 million contract with the Patriots and recently welcomed a new baby with his Grammy-winning girlfriend Cardi B, is now set to be arraigned on a felony charge of strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of assault in Dedham District Court on Jan. 23.

He has not spoken publicly but his lawyer tells PEOPLE in a statement that he "categorically denies the allegations."

David Meier, who is representing Diggs, went on to call the allegations "unsubstantiated, uncorroborated" before adding that they "were never investigated — because they did not occur."

He called the allegations a "direct result of an employee-employer financial dispute that was not resolved to the employee's satisfaction."

The Patriots said in a statement: "Stefon has informed the organization that he categorically denies the allegations. We support Stefon. We will continue to gather information and will cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities and the NFL as necessary."

The NFL said the league was monitoring the situation.

Read the original article on People