Police say Bucs RB "lost his mind" when he rammed car carrying wife and son.
By RICK STROUD
Published June 2, 2003
[Times photo: Bill Serne]
Michael Pittman holds Mykaua Kaelyn, born May 11, as his son Mycah, 2, tags along at their Phoenix home recently.
Bucs running back Michael Pittman rammed his Hummer into a Mercedes driven by his wife and carrying his 2-year-old son and a babysitter Saturday in the couple's suburban Phoenix neighborhood, according to police.
Pittman, 27, was arrested on suspicion of six felony counts and released from Madison Street Jail on his own recognizance. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office will determine whether charges will be filed.
No one was hurt in the crash that occurred about 4 p.m. while Pittman's wife, Melissa, 25, tried to leave the gated community of Whistling Rock with their son, Mycah, and Kristina Hegland, an 18-year-old family babysitter.
Melissa said she was fighting with her husband after confronting him about an extramarital affair.
"Michael just got angry because he got confronted," Melissa told the Arizona Republic on Sunday. "He got angry because he got caught."
The incident occurred 20 days after Melissa gave birth to the couple's second child, a girl, Mykaua Kaelyn, on May 11.
The infant was with Melissa's mother during Saturday's incident.
Pittman, who is on probation stemming from a domestic violence incident in 2001 involving his wife, could be charged with three counts of aggravated assault, three of reckless endangerment and one of criminal damage.
"He told her to get the hell out of the house, so she got into her car and goes down the road, and he blocks the gate with his vehicle," said Phoenix police Lt. Frank Milstead, one of the responding officers. "They have a confrontation and decide (to) go back to the house. But when she moves her car he thinks she's going to take off, so he dents the car (on the passenger side) and pushes it to the curb and blows a tire out (on her car).
"I give him credit. He didn't give us any trouble. But the guy apparently lost his mind and whatever happened happened."
Pittman, while playing for the Arizona Cardinals, was suspended one game by the NFL after he was arrested in July 2001 on domestic violence charges against Melissa. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass and criminal damage. He was sentenced to five days in jail and credited for two days served. He also was fined $500 and underwent anger management counseling.
In 1997, Pittman was charged with domestic assault against Lelica Zazaboi, his girlfriend. A Fresno, Calif., police officer reported seeing Pittman holding Zazaboi by the neck and slamming her face into the seat of a car. Pittman pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and was sentenced to a yearlong batterers treatment program and two years' probation. He said he was encouraged to submit the plea by Fresno State coach Pat Hill.
If found guilty of this most recent incident, Pittman could face harsher punishment from the NFL for violating the league's conduct policy.
Bucs general manager Rich McKay and coach Jon Gruden could not be reached for comment Sunday.
"It's not appropriate to comment until we have further information," said Jeff Kamis, Bucs director of communications.
Pittman's arrest came as he appeared to be enjoying an upswing in his life.
After struggling most of the 2002 season, his first with the Bucs, Pittman rushed for a season-high 124 yards in leading Tampa Bay to a 48-21 victory over the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.
On Thursday evening at his home, while holding his new daughter and playing with his son, Pittman talked to a St. Petersburg Times reporter about how he had learned from mistakes.
But two days later, Melissa said Pittman reacted angrily when questioned about an affair and steered his Hummer H2 into the path of her Mercedes.
"(The babysitter) was scared, we were all scared," Melissa told the Republic. "When you have a Hummer coming toward you and you're in a car, it's a scary situation, and you don't know what's going to happen."
Melissa denied police reports that they argued about whether Pittman should take Mycah to Florida for training camp, which begins July 19.
"We've never fought over our children," she said. "This had nothing to do with the kids.
"He put them in danger (Saturday), but Michael is a good father. He just doesn't think rationally when he gets angry."
Pittman is the third Bucs player to be arrested in the offseason. Cornerback Dwight Smith was arrested by Clearwater police and accused of pointing a gun at another motorist during a road-rage incident April 16. He was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, a third-degree felony.
Ten days later, tackle Kenyatta Walker was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after a skirmish with bouncers at an Ybor City nightclub.
A suspension or release of Pittman could have a profound impact on the Bucs' chance of repeating as world champions.
Pittman led Tampa Bay in rushing with 718 yards on a team-high 204 attempts. He also caught 59 passes for 477 yards, the most of any Bucs running back.
Because of Pittman's Super Bowl performance, the Bucs did not address the running back position in the draft or free agency. Third-year pro Aaron Stecker, who had 28 rushing attempts last season for 174 yards, and second-year pro Travis Stephens, who did not have a rushing attempt as a rookie, are Pittman's backups.
Pittman was en route to his home in Tampa on Sunday, according to his wife.
"I'm not scared, but I have to look out for my children," Melissa said.
- Times photographer Bill Serne, researcher Caryn Baird and sports clerk Jeremy King contributed to this report.
