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Kings player Slava Voynov arrested on suspicion of domestic violence

Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL after being arrested Monday on suspicion of domestic violence, the league announced.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
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Kings defenseman Slava Voynov was arrested Monday on suspicion of domestic violence and has been suspended, the NHL announced.

The suspension is indefinite, pending an investigation by the league. Voynov, 24, is in his fourth season with the Kings.

Kings GM Dean Lombardi could not be reached for comment Monday morning.

The Kings released a statement Monday morning that said: “These developments are of great concern to our organization. We support the NHL’s decision to suspend Slava Voynov indefinitely during this process, and we will continue to take appropriate action as the legal proceedings and the investigation by the NHL take their course.”

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There were limited details about the Voynov case, but the incident is being handled by authorities in Redondo Beach, according to the city’s Police Department.

According to ABC in Los Angeles, Redondo Beach police say officers responded to an area hospital at about 1 a.m. Monday and interviewed the victim.

Sgt. Paul Ribitzki of the Redondo Beach Police Department confirmed the arrest and said the incident occurred on Sunday night. Voynov’s bail amount was $50,000.

Additionally, Voynov’s court date is scheduled for Wednesday in Torrance, according to Ribitzki. The department could not release any additional details.

Voynov’s criminal defense attorney, Craig Renetzky, said that there would not be a court appearance on Wednesday in Torrance. He said it would be Dec. 1.

“The court date [in December] is because he bailed out, not because any charges have been filed,” he said in a telephone interview with The Times. “At this point, there have been no charges filed against him. The police are still investigating, as we are, and we’re hopeful no charges will be filed.”

Would he attempt to get Voynov’s suspension lifted by the league?

“I’m not sure where that is going to go. I’m sure that’s something his agent will have to work out with the league,” Renetzky said.

Renetzky also represented Kings defenseman Drew Doughty in the summer of 2012 when police in Hermosa Beach were looking into sexual assault allegations against Doughty. No charges were filed in the matter.

The NHL’s release stated: “The league may suspend the player pending the league’s formal review and disposition of the matter where the failure to suspend the player during this period would create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the league.”

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who was in Los Angeles for the Kings’ Stanley Cup banner raising on Oct. 8, said at a news conference beforehand that the league has been talking about such behavioral issues with its players for more than a decade.

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“We focus on counseling and education,” Bettman told Times columnist Helene Elliott.

He also said the league has “mechanisms in place” to deal with such incidents.

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