Former New York Yankees star Bernie Williams has been accused of striking a woman who was trying to take his picture in a nightclub in Puerto Rico. The woman, Jeanie Carrion, told the Primera Hora newspaper that Williams hit her in the mouth after trying to grab her camera at about 2:30am on Thursday.
After Puerto Rico defeated the Netherlands 5-0, in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night, Carrion said she went to Shannan’s Pub in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Carrion, a model and TV host, said she was there with three friends. Williams was scheduled to perform with a local band.
When one of Carrion’s friends spoke with Williams, she said another friend requested that she take their picture. Carrion said Williams “became aggressive” after she snapped the picture.
“With the same drive he had to try to take the camera, he hit me in the mouth,” Carrion said. “There was a struggle that you can see in the security cameras, because he pushed me and took the camera.”
Bill Duggan, the owner of Shannan’s, disputed Carrion’s account. Although Duggan did not witness the event, he said members of his security staff told him that Carrion had taken numerous pictures of Williams in a sports bar filled with more than 1,000 people. Eventually, Duggan said, Williams reacted to being harassed. Duggan said the exchange had not been caught on Shannan’s security cameras.
“She kept insisting on taking pictures,” Duggan said. “He reached for the camera and tried to get her to stop. Supposedly, he grabbed the camera and brushed her in the mouth with his elbow.”
Duggan said members of his security staff told him that Carrion had asked Williams for US$300 to forget the event. Williams gave her the money and also returned the camera, Duggan said. Carrion did not initially file a complaint with the Puerto Rican police.
“She had an opportunity to file something that night and she didn’t do it,” said Duggan, who has not been interviewed by the police.
Because the police are investigating the matter, Williams declined to discuss specifics on Friday.
“Hopefully, the matter will be clarified sooner rather than later and the truth will come out,” Williams said.
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