Arizona Cardinals practice squad running back Joshua Rue, 25, allegedly threw a coat hanger at his wife Wednesday in Tempe and then got into a physical confrontation with her, police said.
Tempe police officers arrested Rue on a charge of domestic violence assault shortly before midnight near the intersection of Kyrene Road and Oxford Drive.
Tempe police Sgt. Dan Masters said Rue's wife called police from a Mobile Gas station nearby and claimed Rue had pushed her inside the couple's room at the Town Place Suites at 5223 S. Priest Drive.
Police found Rue traveling in his 2003 red Ford Explorer and arrested him a short time later.
"Rue cooperated fully with officers," Masters said. "We were very happy he did because he is a very big man."
While Rue's wife initially declined medical attention from the fire department, Masters said she later complained of a broken arm but was not taken to a hospital.
Masters said officers did not know Rue was an NFL player until he was being booked at the station.
Rue is currently on the team's practice roster, but he had been activated last season for a Cardinal victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 12.
Cardinals representatives said in a statement released Thursday the team is aware of Rue's arrest and will be monitoring the situation closely as it is handled by the courts.
Masters said this incident shows the universality of the issue.
"Domestic violence is a crime that cuts across all socio-economic lines," he said.
Masters said Rue was released on his own by a Tempe court judge early Thursday and will have to appear in court at a later date.
Reach the reporter at mark.saxon@asu.
