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Former NFL Player Desmond Harrison Turns Himself in on Strangulation and Assault on a Woman Charges: Police

Desmond Harrison is now in custody at the Guilford County Jail.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Former NFL player Desmond Harrison who was wanted for assaulting a woman in Greensboro is now in the Guilford County Detention Center. Harrison turned himself in Friday morning, police confirm.

Harrison's lawyer says the plans to turn himself in, was prearranged with law enforcement.

The former Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman was released by the team after a warrant was issued for him for strangulation and assault on a woman in Greensboro.

Friday afternoon Desmond Harrison made his first court appearance.

The Family Justice Center appeared in court on behalf of the alleged victim. 

A representative said she spoke to the woman Friday morning. 

"She told me she understand she could’ve died during her strangulation, she said that he used his hands as a weapon against her."

The representative stated that the woman wants Harrison to get help, but also wants him to be held accountable for his alleged actions. 

In court, the State described what led up to the alleged fight: 

They woke up, they were intimate, this was consensual. When she attempted to go back to sleep he became angry. He then slapped her on the left side of the head so hard it made her ear ring, she instinctively threw up her arms and might have inadvertently struck him, which only angered him more. That's when he grabbed her by the throat and latched on to her with his entire weight. He struck her on the left side of the face with the palm of his hand, two more times in the face and continued to apply pressure to her neck preventing her from breathing. She told detectives she did not lose consciousness but he had a grip on her neck for at least a minute. She said his face looked in a way she 'had never seen' and he was acting 'crazy.' She said she was lucky he stopped when he did.

A direct quote from the alleged victim: "Des could have killed me"

Harrison's lawyers say the allegations aren't true. 

His lawyer argued that he has no prior convictions, and is an upstanding citizen. His lawyer said just last weekend he volunteered with a nonprofit.

Police say Desmond Harrison was part of an incident at a home on Milton Street. The incident was reported Tuesday night. Police issued warrants for his arrest but did not have him in custody.  

Harrison went to nearby Oak Ridge Military Academy.

Harrison, 25, started at left tackle for the Cleveland Browns for eight games as a rookie last season. He was cut by Cleveland in June and picked up by Arizona the next day.

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