Bears Release DL Ray McDonald After Domestic Violence & Child Endangerment Charges

Chicago Bears has released defensive end Ray McDonald following his arrest in California over alleged domestic violence and child endangerment claims.

ESPN reported that the NFL player was arrested at around 7 a.m. on Monday after he "physically assaulted the victim while she was holding a baby."

The police report on the incident revealed that the 30-year-old defensive end was located in San Jose after he left the crime scene in Santa Clara.

Police said McDonald was taken into custody "for misdemeanor domestic violence and child endangerment." The incident report also stated that the NFL player was booked at the Santa Clara County Jail.

According to NBC Bay Area, McDonald was arrested at the home of former 49ers player Justin Smith in the Silver Creek neighborhood of San Jose.

An NBC Bay Area source also noted that the NFL player is currently renting an apartment in Santa Clara on Carlyle Court for his ex-fiancée and baby.

"The source said that on Sunday night, McDonald went out with friends and wanted to return to the apartment and asked her to leave. He left to give her some space, the source said, and when he returned, the police had been called," added the NBC Bay Area report.

As of late, there are no clear details whether the woman and the baby were injured. McDonald was reportedly released from jail on Monday afternoon after paying $15,000.

In March, the Bears gambled and signed McDonald into a one-year contract despite the fact that the player has had troubles when he was still playing with the San Francisco 49ers.

Fox Sports has learned that McDonald was arrested on Aug. 31 over domestic violence, which reportedly happened during his 30th birthday celebration at his Northern California home. However, charges were later on dropped. His troubles, however, continued when a woman accused him of rape in December last year.

Despite all these issues, Bears team chair George McCaskey "ultimately allowed general manager Ryan Pace to sign McDonald after the veteran defensive lineman flew to Chicago to meet with Bears management," as per ESPN.

"We believe in second chances, but when we signed Ray, we were very clear what our expectations were if he was to remain a Bear. He was not able to meet the standard and the decision was made to release him," Pace added at the time.

Nevertheless, the team has immediately released McDonald after realizing their mistake.

The immediate decision was slammed by McDonald's legal counsel, Steve Defilippis, who said the Bears were "too hasty in releasing him."

"The bottom line is I think Chicago is moving too fast on this. They have absolutely no information at this point. They should be waiting to hear what the real facts are," Defilippis added.