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Chris Cook Charged With Felony Domestic Assault

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Vikings cornerback Chris Cook has been charged with felony domestic assault for allegedly choking his girlfriend early Saturday morning.

The Hennepin County Attorney charged 24-year-old Cook with one count of domestic assault by strangulation.

Police were called to Cook's Eden Prairie townhouse on the 6400 block of Regency Lane just before 2 a.m. Saturday. Police said a neighbor called 911 after hearing yelling and screaming coming from Cook's home.

According to the criminal complaint, when police arrived they found a woman sitting on the living room floor. She was holding her head with her hand and her nose was bleeding.

The woman told police that she had been assaulted and strangled by her boyfriend of 10 months, identified as Cook.

"She was strangled not once but twice," said Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman. "The fingerprints on her neck, and interestingly enough, were one on this side, and several on the other side which fits with the hand."

According to the complaint, the woman told police that Cook was upset with her for contacting an ex-boyfriend. He threw the woman on a bed and grabbed her neck with an open hand, making it difficult for her to breathe.

She was able to get free by pulling Cook's hair but when she stood up, Cook hit her in the ear, causing her to hit the wall, according to the complaint.

Cook then followed her and again squeezed her neck with his hand. When police arrived, they observed marks on the woman's neck and hemorrhaging in the woman's eye which is consistent with strangulation.

Cook posted bond and was released from jail on Tuesday afternoon. His next court appearance in scheduled for Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Hennepin County Court.

"Mr. Cook will be prosecuted just like any other person committing this crime," said Freeman. "He received the same bail, and he's looking at the same sentence any other individual would."

If convicted of the felony, Cook faces up to three years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.

Cook missed the Vikings loss to Green Bay while in jail.

"He's upset that he's sitting there," said attorney David Valentini before Cook was released. "He's upset he missed the game, and he's upset about the whole incident."

When asked if Cook is remorseful, the attorney said, "of course he is."

Cook avoided reporters' questions when he was released from jail Tuesday afternoon, but he did post a message on Twitter, saying "There's always two sides to a story!!" He also posted another tweet, apologizing to the fans.

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