Matt Barnes was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Sacramento and charged with felony domestic assault after an altercation with his former fiancee and current live-in girlfriend Gloria Govan.
After his arrest, Barnes sent a text to ABC affiliate News 10 in Sacramento that read, “U know any domestic violence situation 9 outa 10 times the man gets arrested. That’s the case here I was the victim but still got arrested. No matter what I say people are gonna think what they want…”
More from News 10:
Deputies responded to a 911 call from the home on the 8100 block of Sunset Avenue in Fair Oaks around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tim Curran said.
Investigators determined the two had been involved in a “physical confrontation” and that Barnes prevented the woman from talking with 911 operators, Curran said.
Both Barnes and the woman had visible injuries, according to the deputies.
Barnes was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on the felony charges of domestic violence and maliciously obstructing the use of a telephone line, Curran said.
Barnes will be arraigned Monday after posting $50,000 bond on Wednesday night.
Barnes also defended himself on Twitter Wednesday night, Tweeting, “DON’T LET YOUR EARS WITNESS, WHAT YOUR EYES DIDN’T SEE!!!”
Barnes and the 24-year-old Govan were previously engaged and earlier this year appeared as a couple together on multiple episodes of the VH-1 reality show Basketball Wives.
Barnes, despite later harshly criticizing the concept of the show and cast members, confirmed to VIBE Magazine recently that he was planning on appearing with Govan for the second season of the show. During that confirmation Barnes said:
I just think there was a lot of negative but a lot of positive came from it too. Gloria and I sat down and talked and we decided we gotta use the show the way they’re trying to use us. A lot of doors have opened up for her in opportunities that she would like to pursue for a career and a few things have opened up for me as well and with us moving back to LA even more doors are gonna be opened. So we feel that we can use the show the way they’re going to try to use us to get into our lives and our family.
Not too sure how excited the Lakers will be about that concept.
Earlier this summer I reported that Barnes had slapped an opposing coach during a summer league in San Francisco. Barnes later confirmed the incident but did not apologize.
The Lakers’ management style has long been laissez-faire, but it sounds like an intervention may be in order provided Barnes doesn’t wind up serving serious jail time.
9:42 am on September 9th, 2010
Sorry Barnes,, 10 of of 10 times the guy should get arrested. We have the power of both physical battery and more importantly the power to “kick the bitch out of your life before it gets violent”. Domestic violence is never out of the blue. There are plenty of signs that you are in a shit relationship with someone who pushes the wrong buttons… You are an idiot for not bailing before things came to a head. You are not the victim,,,just an idiot with anger management issues,, rot in jail you coward.
9:55 am on September 9th, 2010
what do you expect from a guy with tattoos on his neck?
10:48 am on September 9th, 2010
realone, you better check your facts. With our pro-gynocratic form of government, as well as the way domestic abuse laws are structured, men don’t have a chance, even if they do walk away. Remember, all it takes is for a woman to say she “felt” threatened, and they haul you off to jail.
I have a friend on the police force who tells me that a woman “felt” threatened in a case where all the guy did was put up his hands to block her from swinging a pan at him, and they hauled him off to jail. WITH witnesses in his favor. Justice is blind you say? It’s laughable, and downright corrupt.
We have feminism and the “you go girl” mantra in America to thank for that. Couple that with alimony laws and “imputed income” and men are pretty much left hung out to dry. The only way for a guy to avoid a situation like this is to avoid American women like the plague.
Until women own up to the responsibility of either not hitting a man, or accepting the fact they will be cracked in the mouth in self defense if a woman swings a weapon at him, there will be no equal justice in the gynocracy.
11:08 am on September 9th, 2010
Let’s see reality show couples:
Bobby and Whitney; divorced
Nick and Jessica; divorced
Russell and Kimora; divorced
Matt and Gloria; not married
Did not see this one coming.
They appeared so in love on the show.
11:19 am on September 9th, 2010
Respect…100% agree with that.
11:53 am on September 9th, 2010
@Respect, Dude you are 100% right, and lets not forget the new saying that’s going around, “there is no reason to ever put your hands on a woman” or “Once is enough” Really? Come on people, we should look at our society and know that teenage girl on girl violence is growing. Now the law needs to be changed so it’s not just grab the guy and work it out later. People have to understand like Barnes we don’t know what really happened but with this law everyone thinks he’s a bad guy now. We sit in this world now that even though I agree that women should have all the same rights as men, why is it ok to then turn around and pick and choose when they are equal to us and when they aren’t. Domestic Violence is never good but guess what people, sometimes women either start it or are only the ones to hit someone, but as soon as a man lifts his hand he’s a women beater, “burn him, burn him” The way I see it, if anyone man or woman put their hands on someone else be prepared for the same. Anger Management for both sex
12:45 pm on September 9th, 2010
If a woman hits you and you grab her to stop her from hitting you and you leave a mark oh her from grabbing her are to stop her from hitting you and you dont have any marks, you are going to jail.
1:06 pm on September 9th, 2010
I do agree with the fact that domestic violence of any kind ( male on female, female on male, etc.) is a disgrace and honestly both men and women should be proactive with their angry management issues. Nevertheless there are politics that go along with all types of issues especially when it hits celebrities. I feel as though Matt will have the support of many people in this case whether the facts conclude that he is at fault or not because he is an adorned celebrity and his girlfriend will be seen to some as a regular old groupie, gold digger, or overall vixan. What we must realize is that regardless of celebrity status or non celebrity status, they both were in the wrong and in some sense both are victims. It takes two to tango and in this case there is evidence thats says they both were physically violent. BUT also keep in mind the Chris Brown and Rhianna incident where both celebrities were physically harmed. In that case ppl sided with Rhianna and all but exiled CB. The point that we must understand and uphold is that neither males nor females have the right to cause physical harm to another out of anger, spite, etc. We must learn that right is right and wrong is wrong no matter the politics that come along with the particular issue.
1:08 pm on September 9th, 2010
I do agree with the fact that domestic violence of any kind ( male on female, female on male, etc.) is a disgrace and honestly both men and women should be proactive with their angry management issues. Nevertheless there are politics that go along with all types of issues especially when it hits celebrities. I feel as though Matt will have the support of many people in this case whether the facts conclude that he is at fault or not because he is an adorned celebrity and his girlfriend will be seen to some as a regular old groupie, gold digger, or overall vixan. What we must realize is that regardless of celebrity status or non celebrity status, they both were in the wrong and in some sense both are victims. It takes two to tango and in this case there is evidence thats says they both were physically violent. BUT also keep in mind the Chris Brown and Rhianna incident where both celebrities were physically harmed. In that case ppl sided with Rhianna and all but exiled CB. The point that we must understand and uphold is that neither males nor females have the right to cause physical harm to another out of anger, spite, etc. We must learn that right is right and wrong is wrong no matter the politics that come along with the particular issue.
2:41 pm on September 9th, 2010
“Both Barnes and the woman had visible injuries, according to the deputies.”
Yet the only one who goes to jail is the man, funny how that works. Mutual combat yet the woman goes free.
5:00 pm on September 9th, 2010
This so “man” is a coward for hitting a woman and the woman should’nt have hit him and as the story clearly states the officers at the scene observed visible injuries on both subjects and as many of you have said on this post both of them should be in jail, and on a side note I can’t be the only one on this post who believes that matt barnes and david blaine look alike!!
5:26 pm on September 9th, 2010
Stay classy, Lakers. You got a wife beater, a rapist, and a one man riot on your team.
8:36 pm on September 9th, 2010
that’s okay… they got fish, so they can take on all manner of societal misfits. & after kobe told the media put an embargo on ever mentioning his transgressions ever again (when was the last time you heard it mentioned? 5 years ago?), players that feel like they may have it in them just sign with the lake show.
& you forgot “maliciously obstructing the use of a telephone line”… a felony.
who knew?
at&t, the dropped call king, might need their own correctional facility by now.
10:34 pm on September 9th, 2010
The better question is, if you just signed with the Lakers, WTF are you still doing in Sucramento!!!
9:33 am on September 10th, 2010
pdiddy - there is no such thing as mutual combat between a man and a woman. Guys can’t / don’t ever hit a woman! That is as crystal clear a rule of life as it gets! Fair?,, Not always but I don’t need a law or rule to tell me otherwise. It is simply barbaric and uncivilized for a guy to hit a female,, You might as well beet up a child.
I had been in a relationship which showed the potential to get ugly. She turned psycho, (usually after a glass of wine),, when she didn’t get her way. If I did not want to do what she wanted,, the verbal assault on me would start. I was sure that if we stayed together that I would have a police record. I ended it,, and to prove her psycho-ness, she stalked, vandalized, and tried to ruin my life for about a year,, all because I ended the relationship. I’m not placing blame, it was just bad chemistry hidden by physical attraction.
Just bail brothers,,, it NEVER gets better.
9:50 am on September 10th, 2010
Uh, think this could be a reality skank ploy to get some publicity
and get her name in the news. That is what they do.
4:19 pm on September 10th, 2010
never hit a woman is b.s.
if a woman attacks a man, a man should do what he has to to control the situation.
letting a woman hit you just puts the next guy she takes a swing at in harms way.
let her know physicallity is not tolerated from anyone.
p.s.- my buddy’s baby momma came over to his house on day, starting breaking his stuff and hitting him, he didn’t lay a hand on her, called the police, she ripped the phone out of the wall and hit him with it (all on the recording), cops showed up and guess who went to jail?
he did.
she was dating the arresting officer withing a week.
if you are going to do the time anyways, might as well do the crime.
11:18 am on September 11th, 2010
they raise boys saying you never should hit a girl. well they really need to start raising girls that you never should put your hands on a man either. then this wouldnt happen so much. you’ll still have the possesive jerk guys who hit chicks and the psycho women who swing pans and objects at guys….i was raised by my mom and aunts and they always said you never hit a girl…. first, but if she wants to hit you like a man then hit her like one. thank god ive never had to, but i always tell women dont ever put your hands on me because i wasnt raised to just take it. i’ll crack a chick back. so far that warning has been enough to prevent anything.
11:20 pm on October 29th, 2010
monkeys in the jungle
11:42 pm on December 29th, 2010
Unless its in self defense or protecting your child, I say “Keep ya hands to Yourself”. I would never want a woman to put hands on my son, grown or not. If you can’t be in a relationship or arrangement where you have mutual love and respect…..move on!! on to the next one. I dont believe there should be any violence in the home, not even with children (unless the parent is stable and knows what they are doing- parenting wise). Fix yourself and the children will have an example worth following-mom& dad. Women need to be more lady-like these days- the bad girl mode gets old- get an education and a job….find a good ministry!
11:13 pm on January 2nd, 2011
Hey Hitler…I mean “razzydear” why don’t you climb off your sister and read a book to enlighten your racist azz?
Anywho…a man has the right to defend himself - from male OR female! Would never encourage violence, but no woman has the right (no matter how small she is) to hit a man…period!