[CW: The following article includes descriptions of domestic violence]
The police report on former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones paints a graphic and highly troubling picture of last Friday’s arrest for misdemeanor battery domestic violence. Jones and his family were in Las Vegas for the induction of his 2013 fight vs. Alexander Gustafsson into the UFC’s Hall of Fame.
Through a public records request MMA Fighting obtained the report, which describes Jones’ alleged assault of his longtime fiancée Jessie Moses, as well as Jones’ behavior after his arrest, and also a harrowing moment when one of their children asked a hotel security guard to call the police.
Back at Caesars Palace, police made contact with Moses, who stated that she is engaged to Jones and they have been together for 17 years with three children together. Moses denied that she had been arguing with Jones but added that around 11:30 p.m. local time, he went out with his friends while she stayed in the hotel room.
Moses then stated that “she was sleeping and Jones came back, [he] was not very happy” and when asked if he got physical with her, she answered, “a little bit yeah.”
Moses then claimed that Jones “touched the back of my head and pulled my hair a little bit but he did not hit me or anything.” Moses explained that Jones allegedly grabbed her by the hair because she was “trying to leave the room.”
Police then observed blood on her clothing and a bump with “dried up blood on the lower part of her lip as if she was in a physical altercation.” Moses said she was unaware that anything happened to her lip while adding, “I know they are really dry.”
According to police, Moses had blood “around her lips, chin and all over her sweatshirt” along with a swollen lower lip, with officers stating she “seemed scared to even talk about” Jones.
The initial call to police came after Moses went to the security desk at the hotel asking for a key to her room, which is when a guard noticed that she had blood on her lip and clothing. The report states Moses began tearing up and she said she was scared to go back to her room, with one of their children asking, “Can you call the cops?”
The report goes on to say that Jones denied ever pulling her hair or touching her at all, and that they had been “arguing about the tension between them.” It also stated that Moses “still seemed very scared as to the release of Jonathan from jail” and did not fill out a voluntary statement or file a protective order against Jones.
Jones allegedly joked to officers that he could escape the handcuffs, but he apologized and complied after officers threatened to taser him if he continued to resist.
The other charge for tampering with a vehicle stemmed from Jones allegedly headbutting the police car, causing enough damage for a felony classification in the state of Nevada. Yes, Jones has a felony charge for damaging a police car but only a misdemeanor for alleged assault of his fiancée.
Jones has been released on $8,000 bond and is due to appear in court on October 26th.
Support for survivors of domestic violence can be found from the following organizations:
USA – The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Canada – DAWN-RAFH Canada
UK and Ireland – Women’s Aid: 0808-2000-247
Rest of the World – HotPeachPages
Free and confidential support for individuals who are in crisis and are thinking about taking their own lives, or have loved ones who are in crisis, can be found with the following organizations.
USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Canada: Crisis Services Canada: Call 1 833 456 4566 or text 45645.
UK and Ireland: Samaritans: Call 116 123 (UK) or 116 123 (ROI) or email [email protected]/[email protected]
Rest of the world