No charges against Yankees pitcher Aroldis Chapman in domestic violence case

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Thursday, January 21, 2016
This Sept. 30, 2015 file photo shows Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman throwing in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs
wabc-AP Photo/John Minchillo

FLORIDA -- Florida prosecutors have decided not to file charges in a domestic disturbance case involving New York Yankees pitcher Aroldis Chapman and his girlfriend.

Broward Assistant State Attorney Stefanie Newman wrote in a close-out memo Wednesday that conflicting accounts and insufficient evidence made a conviction unlikely. Davie police had previously closed the Oct. 30 matter for similar reasons.

According to a police report, Chapman's girlfriend, 22-year-old Cristina Barnea, told police he pushed and choked her. Chapman said there was an argument, but he said he was pushed down by Barnea's brother. Chapman said he eventually got a handgun and fired eight shots into a wall and window while locked in his garage.

A proposed trade of Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds to the Los Angeles Dodgers fell apart after the incident was made public. Chapman was then traded to the Yankees last month.