Indiana Pacers draft pick Lance Stephenson, after pushing his girlfriend down a flight of stairs, grabbed her and hit her head on the bottom step, prosecutors said Monday.
A judge released Stephenson, 19, without bail late Sunday night after his arrest on assault, menacing and harassment charges. Prosecutors had asked for $7,500 bail.
Authorities say the confrontation occurred around 5 a.m. Sunday when the victim, Jasmine Williams, was returning home to her apartment building with two friends. Witnesses said Stephenson was waiting for her and yelled, "Are you kidding me?" before pushing her down the stairs.
A criminal complaint provided Monday by the Brooklyn district attorney's office said that as Williams lay at the bottom of the stairs, Stephenson picked up her head and slammed it on the bottom step.
When police arrived, Stephenson told them the woman had fallen down the stairs, prosecutors said. The complaint said Williams suffered head and back wounds, and possible damage to her neck.
Pacers president Larry Bird said in a statement that he is "aware of a situation involving Lance Stephenson.'' He said the team is gathering information. Stephenson attorney Alberto Ebanks didn't return phone and e-mail messages Monday.
Stephenson was one of the nation's top high school prospects. He played one season at Cincinnati before applying for early entry to the NBA draft.
Stephenson was one of the nation's top prospects coming out of high school, but he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after being accused of groping a 17-year-old girl.
After a solid year at Cincinnati, he was considered by some to be a first-round talent, but he slid into the second round because of his reputation.
