All Charges Against Rich Swann Dropped (P17)

[Deleted]

I've got an update y'all.

Rich Swann and his wife, Vannarah Riggs (women's wrestler Su Yung), had apparently patched things up shortly after Swann's domestic arrest earlier this month in Gainesville, FL. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that the two were said to be doing well, which was no secret among friends they knew.

Just one week after the arrest, Riggs posted a throwback photo with Swann and noted that she couldn't wait to see him the next day but it looks like her Facebook account has been deactivated. Her post said, "I can not wait to see my husband tomorrow! After such an awesome weekend of wrestling debuting in two different promotions across America nothing would be better than to see his face [heart emoji] throwback to our too sweets my love"

As noted, Swann was suspended indefinitely by WWE following the arrest and he may be fired if he's found guilty of the charges - false imprisonment/kidnapping and misdemeanor battery (touching or striking). According to the police report, Swann had been critiquing his wife's performance at an indie wrestling show during their ride home together. Riggs told police she tried leaving out of fear of the argument escalating due to Swann's occasional temper. A witness told police that Swann placed Riggs in a headlock and forced her back into the car. Swann claimed he never physically forced Riggs to get back into the car and said she did so on her own. Riggs reportedly attempted to leave the car again while it was moving but Swann chased after her, which caused the car to crash into a telephone pole. Swann told police that he chased her only to get the GPS directions she had on her phone as they were using that to travel with.

Swann's attorney, Ian M. Pickens of Meldon Law, issued the following statement to SportingNews.com earlier this month:

"At this point, no criminal charges have been filed officially against him so depending on how that process plays out will determine our scope of representation. We're hopeful for a fair and quick resolution on behalf of Mr. Swann, but ultimately the state attorney will make their decision (on potential charges) when they deem it appropriate. We're working on the case now and things we may do to assist Mr. Swann. But as far as specifics, I can't comment on that."

- Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Yep. It's one of THOSE relationships.

We see them far too much. Sadly.

[Stu]

Ian M. Pickens sounds like political satire or a character from a children's book

[DASH 243✅]

Dec 21, 2017 23:09:52 GMT -5 Stu said:

Ian M. Pickens sounds like political satire or a character from a children's book

Maybe he's slim Pickens brother.

[Topher is Human]

Chasing someone in a car to get GPS coordinates, as opposed to just using your phone instead, is an excuse so bad I would count it as a confession.

[Banjo Is Broken]

See nothing to worry about. Now Swann needs to come back and do a barely coherent promo where he berates the WWE for turning their back on him.

[Deleted]

Scum.




Bag.

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2017 23:11:54 GMT -5 DASH 243✅ said:

Dec 21, 2017 23:09:52 GMT -5 Stu said:

Ian M. Pickens sounds like political satire or a character from a children's book

Maybe he's slim Pickens brother.

Considering his name and the fact that he legit basically said I have no idea how this is going to turn out...STAY TUNED! It's almost hilarious...almost if it wasn't real life people with real life prior and current issues...

[Steveweiser]

All charges against Rich Swann have been dropped, per PWInsider...

ALL CHARGES AGAINST WWE STAR RICH SWANN DISMISSED
by Mike Johnson @ 5:18 PM on 1/25/2018

All charges against WWE 205 Live star Richard Swann were dismissed today when a determination was made by Prosecutors that there was "insufficient evidence" to move forward with the case.

Swann was arrested early Sunday morning 12/10/17 and charged wit false imprisonment/kidnapping and a misdemeanor charge of battery- touching or striking reveals that the victim of the alleged incident was Swann's wife, Vannarah Riggs, who performs as Su Yung on the independent wrestling scene.

According to the arrest report, the two had been traveling from an event in Gainesville, Florida that Yung had performed at, discussing her match. Yung had wrestled last night for Fest Wrestling, which ran a venue titled Eight-Seconds. According to the report, Swann had been critizing Yung's performance and "began getting angry with her." Yung, feeling the argument was "going to escalate," got out of their car at 1500 East University Avenue as Swann, who was driving, was in traffic. Swann yelled for her to return to the car, but she refused and walked away.

At this point, the arrest report claims that Swann, who had left the car as well, grabbed Yung by the arm, then around the neck, putting her in a headlock and bringing her back to the car as she screamed for help. A witness to the incident told police that Yung was beating on the window trying to get out of the car as it pulled away and that she "seemed very afraid of the Defendant and was trying to get away from him."

A second witness claimed that after Swann exited his car, he failed to put it in park, leaving the car to lurch forward, where it struck a telephone pole on the corner of East University Avenue and Northeast 15th Street.

Based on the location of the arrest (2400 SE Hawthorne Street in Gainesville, Florida), Swann and Yung traveled about a mile away from where the incident took place before Swann's car was stopped and he was placed under arrest.

In the arrest report, authorities stated that Yung told them she was afraid of Swann "because he has a temper sometimes" and that she was scared their argument would escalate into a physical confrontation. Yung stated that she asked Swann to pull the car over so she could leave the vehicle but he refused, so she waited until the car slowed to jump out of the car. She told authorities that she was grabbed by the arm and brought back to the car.

After being arrested and having been read his rights, Swann (according to the report) denied ever physically touching Yung and forcing her to return to the car, stating that she did so on her own. Swann claimed that he only wanted to return home and that they were using the GPS that was on Yung's phone and he "needed her to come with it." Swann also told authorities that the couple had been together five years and have been married nine months.

WWE immediately suspended Swann under the company's domestic violence policy, which states, "WWE has zero tolerance for matters involving domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. Upon arrest for such misconduct, a WWE talent will be immediately suspended. Upon conviction for such misconduct, a WWE talent will be immediately terminated."

The charges being dismissed should lead to Swann's reinstatement as a performer for WWE.

[Alice Syndrome]

Umm. Yay I guess.

[Gawk Rivers]

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I assume his wife didn't want to testify. That doesn't really make me want to see him on TV again.

[thetower52]

I guess he could handle it

[lionheart21]

How was there insufficient evidence?

[A Platypus Rave is Correct]

So what a rollercoaster this thread was huh?

Especially when we consider it started Swan was the Number 1 contender for Enzo Amore's Cruiserweight title...

then he got suspended... and then right before he was reinstated Enzo is fired...

I am going off of King who was back like the week after the charges were dropped against him... then again Swann's spot in 205 is probably gone.

[Deleted]

Well, okay. I guess good for Swann.

[The Rick Jericho]

Edit: thought it was again.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Hmm

I guess the show goes on and he's back but yeah he's going to have a stigma on him for a long time

[Savage Gambino]

Jan 25, 2018 17:48:58 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave is Correct said:

So what a rollercoaster this thread was huh?

Especially when we consider it started Swan was the Number 1 contender for Enzo Amore's Cruiserweight title...

then he got suspended... and then right before he was reinstated Enzo is fired...

I am going off of King who was back like the week after the charges were dropped against him... then again Swann's spot in 205 is probably gone.

Hell, the existence of 205 itself is probably on thin ice.

I'll be surprised if he survives the next round of firings.

[Deleted]

Jan 25, 2018 17:47:44 GMT -5 lionheart21 said:

How was there insufficient evidence?

If the eye witnesses only saw part of their argument and his wife wasn't interesting in testifying, there's not much that could have been done. It's also possible that upon further investigation, what happened wasn't as bad as the initial report made it sound. Or there were inconsistencies in the eye witness reports. There's a lot of possibilities.

[ronin705]

Good ol American system at work. In Canada, once you're charged in cases like this, the crown takes over in the event the victim decides not to partake. Swann better thank his lucky stars for thus, and enzo's bs maybe getting him a nice slack in the back door back to work