1:15 PM PT -- Gay pleaded not guilty to the criminal damage charge in court Thursday afternoon, records show.
Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay pleaded not guilty at his court appearance today, via Zoom. pic.twitter.com/ThXwQuNHn5
— Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) January 20, 2022
The linebacker is still in custody, though he's expected to be released later Thursday on personal recognizance.
During the hearing, the judge ordered Gay have no contact with his son or the baby's mother for the immediate future.
Gay is due back in court on March 2.
7:52 AM PT -- A rep for Gay says the football player was arrested after he broke a vacuum during an argument with the mother of his child.
"Willie was at his son's house visiting," Maxx Lepselter said in a statement Thursday morning. "He and the mother got into an argument during which he broke her vacuum."
Lepselter insisted the altercation did not turn physical ... adding, "No one was touched, nothing happened beyond broken appliance."
"She called cops about it and they took him in on misdemeanor destruction of property of less than $1,000."
Lepselter expected a quick resolution to the case, perhaps even as early as Thursday afternoon.
"Likely just pays a fine and replaces vacuum. Nothing more, all should be resolved today with no further issues."
Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay -- who's started 19 games for the team the past two seasons -- was arrested Wednesday night ... just four days before Kansas City's playoff game against Buffalo.
Jail records show the 23-year-old was arrested by the Overland Park Police Department in Kansas at 10:30 p.m. He was booked on a charge of criminal damage roughly two hours later.
According to jail records, Gay is still in custody. He has a court date scheduled for later Thursday afternoon.
Further details surrounding the arrest are unclear -- we're working on it.
When Willie Gay played in more than 70% of the snaps in Week 16, he finished with 10 tackles and a forced fumble 👀 pic.twitter.com/9X8AddxZc6
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) March 2, 2021
Gay was picked by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and has been a key contributor for the team the past two seasons, logging 87 total tackles, two interceptions and 1.5 sacks in 28 games.
His status for the Chiefs' home playoff game Sunday against the Buffalo Bills is now in question following the arrest.
Story developing ...
Originally Published -- 6:11 AM PT