Former 49er, Raider Harris Charged With Beating Up Ex-Boyfriend
MENLO PARK (CBS SF) - Former San Francisco 49er first round draft pick Kwame Harris was due in court Monday on charges that he assaulted an ex-boyfriend during an argument over a plate of rice, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal.
The 30-year-old former Stanford star is charged with felony counts of domestic violence and causing great bodily harm stemming from an August 2012 incident at the Su Hong restaurant in Menlo Park.
According to the Daily Journal, Harris met former boyfriend Dimitri Geier at the restaurant with plans of driving him to San Francisco International Airport. Harris allegedly became agitated after Geier poured soy sauce onto a plate of rice, which sparked an argument inside the restaurant.
The report said Harris then revoked his offer of a ride and allegedly attempted to pull Geier's pants down and accuse him of stealing his underwear as the pair walked back to Harris' car. The argument then escalated into a fight which left Geier with a broken orbital bone, according to a lawsuit filed in the case, according to the report.
Harris then allegedly threw Geier's belongings from the car before speeding off. He was later arrested at his home.
Harris' attorney, Alin Cintean, confirmed to the Daily Journal that the pair were previously involved but were just friends at the time of the incident. Cintean told the paper that Geier struck first and that Harris simply acted in self defense.
Geier is also suing Harris civilly for assault, battery, and false imprisonment, among other charges. Geier said he needed a metal plate inserted into his skull to help him recover from his injuries.
Harris and his attorney filed a paperwork denying all of the civil claims and said they are looking forward to proving their case in court.
The 49ers selected Harris as the 26th overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft. He played five seasons with the 49ers and one year with the Oakland Raiders.
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