North Fulton County

Former NFL player accused of attacking fiancée during child's birthday party

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A former NFL player is accused of attacking his fiancee in a home in which a child's birthday party was going on.

Michael Thomas walked into the Fulton County Jail courtroom wearing a blue inmate uniform. It’s a different uniform than the one people are used to seeing on him. Thomas played for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2009 to 2012.

According to a Sandy Springs police report, a woman said Thomas started beating her early Sunday morning with an open and closed fist and then began choking her.

“They could hear loud banging, screaming. They could hear a female, you know, crying for help,” Sgt. Sam Worsham, of the Sandy Springs Police Department, told Winne.

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The police report lists warrant for aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and child abuse in the third degree.

The report said six juvenile females were inside the home for a birthday party at the time of the assault.

“They could hear the altercation going on upstairs,” Worsham said.

Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne spoke to Thomas inside the Fulton County Jail. He told Winne he and his fiancee had argued.

"I never hit her. I never intentionally hit her," Thomas told Winne.

He suggested the allegation he strangled her is false and said he did not commit any crimes.

Thomas confirmed there was a gun found inside his briefcase but told Winne he has a concealed weapons permit.

He told Winne he felt as if “being a black man in Sandy Springs" had been a factor in his arrest.

Worsham told Winne that accusation has no merit.

“We strive on treating everyone fairly, equally,” Worsham said. “The men and women who wear this uniform are sworn to an oath.”

Thomas remains in the Fulton County Jail with no bond.