Suspended Browns offensive line coach Moeller won’t be charged but NFL reviewing case

BEREA, Ohio Browns offensive line coach Andy Moeller won’t be charged despite his fiancee accusing him of assault, Berea prosecutor Jim Walters said Wednesday in a statement outlining the case.

But Moeller could still face discipline from the NFL.

Moeller remains suspended indefinitely by the Browns, and an NFL spokesman said Wednesday the league is continuing to review the matter under its personal conduct policy.

Fox Sports first reported Moeller will meet with NFL officials next week to discuss the incident.

When Moeller was an assistant coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2011, the NFL suspended him for two games and fined him $47,000 for violating the policy. The suspension stemmed from Moeller being found guilty of a driving while impaired by alcohol. At the time, it was his third alcohol-related arrest in four years.

The Browns suspended Moeller indefinitely Sept. 7 after his fiancee, Sandra Lucci, said during a 911 call Moeller “tried to strangle me and beat me up” the night of Sept. 5 at his home in Berea.

Walters concluded “alcohol was a significant contributing factor in the incident.” Moeller and Lucci told Berea police they had been drinking.

Moeller and Lucci consumed beers during the day at Oktoberfest at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea. Lucci said when they were leaving the event, Moeller had “road rage” as he and another driver yelled out their windows at each other. Then Moeller and Lucci went to his nearby home for dinner, and they drank more alcohol. Lucci lives in Maryland but had been visiting Moeller partly to discuss a wedding date.

Walters said Moeller and Lucci gave “different versions of the incident in the home which precipitated her departure.”

Lucci, 52, said Moeller, 51, became angry at her while she was talking on the phone with her son and pushed her neck with his forearm, choking her.

Moeller said “I never touched her” in body camera videos released Wednesday by police. Moeller said she became agitated during the phone call and threw plates and a remote control as she “trashed the house.” Moeller said he told Lucci to leave.

Moeller also said, “I’ve had issues with alcohol in the past. I’ve had a couple DWIs. This will cost me my job if this comes out here tonight, if I’m arrested. She knows that, and that’s her best way to get back at me.”

Lucci packed her suitcase and called 911 at 9:06 p.m. as she walked away from Moeller’s house. Asked by the dispatcher whether Moeller had been violent before, Lucci said, “Yeah, well, I hate to say that. But, yeah, I’m sure.”

Lucci was taken to a hotel at her request. Approximately at midnight, she contacted police again and said she still wanted to press charges and had an injury from the incident, which was not originally visible, according to the police report. An officer went to the hotel, where Lucci showed him a bruise on her chin and signed an assault complaint.

At 7:55 a.m. Sunday, the officer returned to the hotel upon Lucci’s request. She then stated she wanted to drop the assault charge and completed a second statement form.

The case was forwarded to Walters. He decided not to file charges against Moeller after reviewing reports, statements and other materials in addition to speaking with Lucci by phone.

“It is quite clear that an incident of a volatile nature took place between Mr. Moeller and Ms. Lucci on the evening of the call but what is less clear is the exact nature of the incident and the actions of the two persons involved,” Walters said.

(c)2015 Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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