Ravens’ Ray Rice Indicted

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was indicted by a grand jury Thursday on third-degree aggravated assault for allegedly striking his fiancée unconscious last month.

Rice was arrested and charged with simple assault-domestic violence on Feb. 15 after a physical altercation with his fiancée, Janay Palmer, at the Revel Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City, N.J. Palmer also was charged with simple assault.

A video obtained and posted online by TMZ showed Rice lifting Palmer by her arms out of an elevator and laying her on the floor. Rice’s attorney, Michael Diamondstein, has said the footage is authentic but incomplete.

Diamondstein told The Press of Atlantic City on Thursday that neither Rice nor Palmer wants to move forward with the case.

“On behalf of Ray Rice, we vehemently deny that Mr. Rice committed an aggravated assault,” he told The Press of Atlantic City. “Both Mr. Rice and Miss Palmer are together, they are happy and they’re in counseling.”

Rice was one of three Ravens players to be arrested in a 22-day period. Backup wide receiver Deonte Thompson was arrested for possession of marijuana on Feb. 21, and reserve offensive lineman Jah Reid was arrested on two misdemeanor charges of battery on March 9.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has said Rice has a future with the team despite his arrest.

Rice, 27, signed a five-year, $35 million contract with the Ravens before the 2012 season. He is coming off his worst season, rushing for only 660 yards and averaging a career-low 3.1 yards per carry.

Story courtesy of ESPN.com

Information from ESPN.com Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley was used in this report.

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