Police say the wife of former Alabama and New York Jets quarterback Richard Todd hit him several times with a pair of pliers during an argument, and she was jailed on a felony assault charge.
Story Snapshot
- Debra Darby Todd, 68, is charged with second-degree domestic violence assault, a felony in Alabama.
- Court records say she struck her husband, 72, “multiple times with a pair of pliers during an argument.”
- He was left with cuts and scrapes on his arms, and reports say he did not go to the hospital.
- She was booked into the Lauderdale County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
Arrest And Charge Described In Court Filings
The fight happened at about 11:05 p.m. on Monday, November 9, at the couple’s home in Lauderdale County, near Florence, Alabama. According to a sworn statement filed in Lauderdale County District Court, Debra Todd “did intentionally cause physical injury to the victim by striking him multiple times with a pair of pliers during an argument.” Court records have not said what the argument was about. She is accused, not convicted, and no statement from her or a lawyer for her has been reported.
The complaint was filed at 4:59 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10. Police records list two witnesses to the alleged attack, but their names and accounts have not been made public. Lauderdale County Sheriff Joe Hamilton confirmed the charge is a Class B felony. Police records showed she had not posted bond as of Wednesday afternoon, November 11.
Richard Todd was the starting quarterback at Alabama under coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and played on the 1973 team that shared the national title. The Jets drafted him sixth overall in 1976. He spent 10 seasons in the NFL with the Jets and the New Orleans Saints and led the Jets to the AFC Championship game in the 1982 season.
What Second-Degree Domestic Violence Means In Alabama
Under Alabama law, second-degree domestic violence is a second-degree assault, or certain other listed crimes, committed against a spouse or other family or household member. Second-degree assault includes hurting someone on purpose with a “dangerous instrument,” which means an object that can cause serious harm when used as a weapon. That is why striking someone with a tool like pliers can lead to a felony charge.
A Class B felony is the second most serious class of felony in Alabama. The law does not require a hospital stay for a “physical injury” charge. Cuts and scrapes can meet that standard. The court will decide whether the evidence supports the charge.
What Comes Next In The Case
The case is in Lauderdale County District Court. Court records have not said whether investigators kept the pliers as evidence or what the two witnesses told police. Those details usually come out at hearings. One local report lists him by his full name, Carl Richard Todd.
The case is also a reminder that domestic violence can happen to men as well as women, at any age and in any kind of home. Anyone who is being hurt by a partner can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. As with any criminal case, an arrest is not a conviction, and the court will decide the outcome based on the law and the proof.
Sources:
foxnews.com, al.com, waff.com, timesdaily.com, rocketcitynow.com, nypost.com, law.justia.com
