Zay Flowers case: Alleged victim reported ‘violent domestic incident’ to Massachusetts police
Darcy Costello and Hayes Gardner
The Baltimore Sun
February 13, 2024
Police in Massachusetts contacted Baltimore County officers last month about a report they’d received of a “violent domestic incident” in Owings Mills on Jan. 16, according to a knowledgeable source.
The alleged victim wouldn’t name the other person involved but described him as an NFL player. When Acton Police shared the news with Baltimore County, they added who they believed it was: Xavien “Zay” Flowers.
According to what was reported in Massachusetts, the alleged victim was “physically assaulted,” and said they were left with multiple bruises, according to the source, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
The alleged victim also reported a third individual present, the source said. That person allegedly drew a firearm during the incident.
Flowers, a Ravens wide receiver, has not been charged with a crime, nor has he been named a suspect, Baltimore County Police said.
In a statement Tuesday, county police spokesperson Joy Stewart said the department’s investigation “into whether a crime has occurred” is still ongoing.
It could not be determined whether Flowers has an attorney representing him. Flowers has not commented publicly since news of a police investigation involving him broke last week.
Officials have provided little additional information. Baltimore County Police spokesperson Trae Corbin said last week they are investigating an “alleged assault,” but declined to answer many other questions.
The source said the alleged victim’s report to Acton Police was made Jan. 21, five days after the alleged Jan. 16 incident.
Baltimore County Police dispatch audio from the morning of Jan. 16 stated that a woman called 911 crying and “seemed in distress” when she hung up, according to archived radio traffic accessed through the Broadcastify website.
According to the dispatch, the call came from an address in the same building where Flowers has owned a townhouse since last summer, records show, in a new development in Owings Mills, a couple of miles from the Ravens training facility. Neighbors confirmed that Flowers lives in the unit.
That 911 call has not been released by Baltimore County’s 911 call center. Officials wrote in response to a public records request by The Baltimore Sun that the records “are part and parcel to an open and ongoing law enforcement investigation.”
The Sun also sought to obtain relevant records from Acton Police, the department in Massachusetts. While the department confirmed it had one report involving Flowers, it said it could not release it or say whether the agency was investigating, citing the state’s Domestic Violence Act of 2014.
Since the alleged assault was initially reported, there has been little comment from those involved. The Ravens said they “take these matters seriously,” but have not commented further. And neither the NFL nor Flowers’ agent has commented. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the NFLPA, the players’ union, declined to comment because it is an “ongoing investigation.”
Flowers, the Ravens top receiver this past season, remains on the team’s roster, listed online. In the days after the alleged incident, he played in both of the Ravens’ playoff games — the win over the Houston Texans on Jan. 20 and the loss in the AFC Championship Game to the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 27.
Flowers fumbled the ball near the Chiefs’ goal line in the fourth quarter and slammed his hand against a bench moments later, causing it to bleed.
One consequence he appears to face, however, lies with his sponsorship deals. Flowers has appeared in ads for Pizza Boli’s, the mid-Atlantic pizzeria chain; MyProtein, a dietary supplement; Bath & Body Works and Dunkin’ Donuts. He also reportedly signed an endorsement deal with Under Armour last year.
Flowers has appeared in televised commercials for Pizza Boli’s, as has Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard. However, on Pizza Boli’s Instagram page, there are no posts of Flowers, although there are of Ricard.
When asked Tuesday morning about the pizzeria’s partnership with Flowers, the person who picked up the phone at Pizza Boli’s headquarters said that while they take such matters “seriously,” they could not comment. Asked if Flowers continues to represent Pizza Boli’s, the person again said, “We can’t comment about it,” before hanging up.
In a November news release, Bath & Body Works announced that Flowers, as well as San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Ohio State University wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. would be promoting their men’s grooming products. While ads featuring McCaffrey and Harrison remain on Bath & Body Works’ social media pages, ones with Flowers appear to have been removed.
Bath & Body Works did not reply to requests for comment.
Flowers remains in ads posted to MyProtein’s social media. MyProtein did not reply to a request for comment.
The wide receiver also appeared in a Dunkin’ Donuts ad with Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta in November. Dunkin’ Donuts did not reply to a request for comment, nor did Under Armour.