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 Voynov, 24, will be paid during the suspension but will be barred
from all club activities pending a formal investigation, the NHL
said.
The Russian defenseman was arrested at 12:45 a.m. by Redondo Beach,
California, police at a Los Angeles-area hospital where he was with
a female who was being treated for injuries, police said. Police did
not release the name of the woman nor the nature of her injuries,
saying she had requested confidentiality.
Voynov, who police said was cooperative, was released from jail in
the Los Angeles beach community at 9 a.m. after posting $50,000
bond, Redondo Beach police said. He is scheduled to appear in court
on Dec. 1.
Police said they received a call from a residential neighborhood
reporting a female screaming for about 20 minutes and later crying.
Police were unable to contact the woman but later received a call
from police in nearby Torrance that a hospital was treating a woman
for injuries, possibly related to domestic violence.
"These developments are of great concern to our organization," the
Kings said in a statement. "We support the NHL’s decision to suspend
Slava Voynov indefinitely during this process, and we will continue
to take appropriate action as the legal proceedings and the
investigation by the NHL take their course."
Police said a child was at the residence where the incident occurred
and is also part of the investigation.
While the woman was not identified, police confirmed that the
incident resulted in a charge of felony domestic violence, which by
legal definition involves a wife, girlfriend, relative or
cohabitant.
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"An arrest does not necessarily mean there is enough evidence for
formal charges, and it is our hope that after the police complete
their investigation the prosecutors will conclude that charges are
not warranted," Voynov's attorney, Craig Renetzky, said in a
statement.
Voynov is in the second year of a six-year, $25 million contract
deal that pays him $4.16 million annually. The Russian, who has
spent his entire four-year career with the Kings, had two assists in
six games this season.
Domestic violence in professional sports has taken a higher profile
since video emerged last month of National Football League running
back Ray Rice knocking out his wife at a New Jersey casino in
February.
Rice was originally suspended for two games, but after the video
went viral he was released by the Baltimore Ravens and suspended
indefinitely by the league. Rice has appealed.
The NHL's handling of the Voynov case is in sharp contrast with last
year's arrest of Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who
was allowed to play while facing second-degree kidnapping charges
that were eventually dropped.
Voynov's suspension was in line with the league's labor agreement,
the league said in its statement.
(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg; Additional reporting by Eric Kelsey in
Los Angeles; Editing by Susan Heavey, Eric Walsh, David Gregorio and
Cynthia Osterman)
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