Daniel Straus is being held on $100,000 bond after being charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
[CW: The following story describes suspected acts of domestic violence]
According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel two-time Bellator featherweight champion Daniel Straus has been arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Straus was booked into a Broward County, FL jail on Friday with bail set at $100,000.
Straus was told on Saturday that if he was released on bond he was to have no contact with the alleged victim in this case. He was also instructed not to possess weapons or ammunition of any kind.
Citing a police affidavit MMA Junkie reports that Straus’ arrest stems from an incident in which a woman was struck multiple times and then stabbed with a “sharp instrument”.
That affidavit claims that the victim was arguing with Straus via text message, which lead to Straus appearing at the woman’s place of employment. The woman said she tried to leave that location and got into her car, but that Straus followed, entered her car and refused to leave.
The woman said she then left the car and walked away, but that Straus followed her. The woman said Straus then pushed her and she pushed him back. The woman said she then tried to get back into her car, but was then struck multiple times. Straus is accused of driving away after this and then calling the victim to let her know he was at her apartment.
The woman said she responded to this by driving to Straus’ apartment with hopes of obtaining a spare key to her apartment, which she had given to him. The woman said she encountered Straus at his apartment and that she tried to get him to return her spare key.
She said Straus responded with the threat, “You don’t know me. I’ll stab you.” She accused Straus of then pushing her out the door. The woman said she then told Straus, “You’re big and bad, what are you gonna do? Stab me?”
The woman claimed Straus then reached around to his backside, produced a sharp object, and stabbed her in the abdomen. The woman said she sought assistance from Straus’ neighbours, who drove her to a local hospital. The woman received stitches to close the wound.
In the police affidavit the woman said she would fully cooperate with the state’s attorney office and that she “is in complete fear of the defendant and feels that if he is not apprehended that he will come after her and cause further harm to her for notifying the police.”
Straus first appeared for Bellator in 2010. He has competed for that organization on 18 occasions. He twice won Bellator’s featherweight title, once in 2013 and again in 2015. His last fight was at Bellator 226 in September 2019. There he was defeated by Derek Campos in the opening round of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix.
In 2013 Straus was arrested after a search of his vehicle resulted in the discovery of over 20 grams of marijuana, three grams of synthetic cannabis, MDMA and drug paraphernalia. Straus was also charged with driving on a suspended license. Straus took a plea deal in the case and was sentenced to probation.
Before he started his MMA career Straus served three years in prison on robbery charges.
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