01-31-2008, 08:38 AM
AFL great Wayne Carey has gone into hiding as he faces possible jail in the United States, while also being investigated in Victoria following violent incidents with police.
Revelations today that Carey was charged with assaulting police in Florida last year also cost him his promising media career, with the Nine Network sacking him from two football shows.
He had already lost his spot at Melbourne radio station 3AW.
As his life unravels, Carey may be hiding out with elder brother Dick at his home in Hervey Bay in Queensland.
The dual North Melbourne premiership captain was arrested on Sunday at his Port Melbourne home after police were called to a domestic dispute involving live-in girlfriend Kate Neilson.
But details also emerged today of an incident in Miami last October in which it is alleged Carey cut Ms Neilson's face with a wine glass.
Hobbled
US authorities say 36-year-old Carey reacted so violently towards Miami police that he was put in a hobble restraint, usually reserved for violent criminals.
"Basically that is a leather strap that's tied around his leg and his hands. The end of it is then put outside of a closed car door where the restraint restricts some of his movement so he can't move back and forth or side to side,'' Miami Police Detective Delrish Moss said.
Carey allegedly kicked one officer in the face and elbowed another and, when put into the police car, repeatedly headbutted the window separating him from the officers, officers said.
"He could spend some serious time in jail. These are serious charges. You don't attack cops,'' Miami Police Lieutenant Bill Schwartz said.
It's alleged the clash with police came after Carey smashed a glass in Ms Neilson's face, lacerating her lips and neck, while they were staying at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
Carey was charged with assault on a public servant, aggravated battery and resisting arrest with violence.
The first two charges carry jail terms of up to 15 years in prison, and the third up to five years in jail with each carrying a fine of up to $10,000.
Carey was taken to a cell at the Dade County Jail before fronting a judge.
He is due to appear at the Miami-Dade County Court on February 15.
However, should Carey fail to appear, Lt Schwartz said it was unlikely Carey would be extradited to the US.
Carey "special"
Meanwhile, Victoria police said an investigation was continuing into the incident on Sunday in which Carey was subdued with capsicum spray and led away in handcuffs.
Former North Melbourne premiership teammates of the 272-game veteran, who retired in 2004, said they were saddened by the reports.
"What's been reported is not the Wayne I know,'' David King said.
"The Wayne I know is a leader, a person who was able to draw a whole football club together.
"In a lot of ways this is the demise of a pretty special individual.''
"Terribly sad"
Another former teammate, Wayne Schwass, said he had never seen Carey behave violently.
"It pains me to say this because I spent a lot of time with Wayne over my footy career, but it's just going from bad to worse and that's just terribly sad for everybody involved,'' Schwass told the Fairfax News Network.
Carey has abandoned his Port Melbourne address since his weekend arrest and has not been spotted in his home town of Wagga Wagga in southern NSW.
Wagga locals believe he has gone to Queensland to get support from his brother Dick.
"Sensationalism"
Carey's sister Sharon, who still lives in Wagga, told the regional city's newspaper that reports of her brother's behaviour were just "sensationalism''.
Carey's career was blotted by several scandals, the most damaging being his affair with the wife of his best friend and team vice-captain Anthony Stevens which forced his shock exit from North Melbourne in 2002.
He then split with his wife Sally in February 2006, two months after the birth of their daughter Ella.
In 1996, he pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault after grabbing a passing woman's breast on a Melbourne city street after 12 hours of drinking with teammates.
Last year, he was forced to apologise for his "insensitive'' comments about North Melbourne player Nathan Thompson's experience with depression.
News.com.au
Revelations today that Carey was charged with assaulting police in Florida last year also cost him his promising media career, with the Nine Network sacking him from two football shows.
He had already lost his spot at Melbourne radio station 3AW.
As his life unravels, Carey may be hiding out with elder brother Dick at his home in Hervey Bay in Queensland.
The dual North Melbourne premiership captain was arrested on Sunday at his Port Melbourne home after police were called to a domestic dispute involving live-in girlfriend Kate Neilson.
But details also emerged today of an incident in Miami last October in which it is alleged Carey cut Ms Neilson's face with a wine glass.
Hobbled
US authorities say 36-year-old Carey reacted so violently towards Miami police that he was put in a hobble restraint, usually reserved for violent criminals.
"Basically that is a leather strap that's tied around his leg and his hands. The end of it is then put outside of a closed car door where the restraint restricts some of his movement so he can't move back and forth or side to side,'' Miami Police Detective Delrish Moss said.
Carey allegedly kicked one officer in the face and elbowed another and, when put into the police car, repeatedly headbutted the window separating him from the officers, officers said.
"He could spend some serious time in jail. These are serious charges. You don't attack cops,'' Miami Police Lieutenant Bill Schwartz said.
It's alleged the clash with police came after Carey smashed a glass in Ms Neilson's face, lacerating her lips and neck, while they were staying at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
Carey was charged with assault on a public servant, aggravated battery and resisting arrest with violence.
The first two charges carry jail terms of up to 15 years in prison, and the third up to five years in jail with each carrying a fine of up to $10,000.
Carey was taken to a cell at the Dade County Jail before fronting a judge.
He is due to appear at the Miami-Dade County Court on February 15.
However, should Carey fail to appear, Lt Schwartz said it was unlikely Carey would be extradited to the US.
Carey "special"
Meanwhile, Victoria police said an investigation was continuing into the incident on Sunday in which Carey was subdued with capsicum spray and led away in handcuffs.
Former North Melbourne premiership teammates of the 272-game veteran, who retired in 2004, said they were saddened by the reports.
"What's been reported is not the Wayne I know,'' David King said.
"The Wayne I know is a leader, a person who was able to draw a whole football club together.
"In a lot of ways this is the demise of a pretty special individual.''
"Terribly sad"
Another former teammate, Wayne Schwass, said he had never seen Carey behave violently.
"It pains me to say this because I spent a lot of time with Wayne over my footy career, but it's just going from bad to worse and that's just terribly sad for everybody involved,'' Schwass told the Fairfax News Network.
Carey has abandoned his Port Melbourne address since his weekend arrest and has not been spotted in his home town of Wagga Wagga in southern NSW.
Wagga locals believe he has gone to Queensland to get support from his brother Dick.
"Sensationalism"
Carey's sister Sharon, who still lives in Wagga, told the regional city's newspaper that reports of her brother's behaviour were just "sensationalism''.
Carey's career was blotted by several scandals, the most damaging being his affair with the wife of his best friend and team vice-captain Anthony Stevens which forced his shock exit from North Melbourne in 2002.
He then split with his wife Sally in February 2006, two months after the birth of their daughter Ella.
In 1996, he pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault after grabbing a passing woman's breast on a Melbourne city street after 12 hours of drinking with teammates.
Last year, he was forced to apologise for his "insensitive'' comments about North Melbourne player Nathan Thompson's experience with depression.
News.com.au