DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard had a domestic battery charge stemming from a December incident with his fiancée dismissed Thursday morning, per his lawyer Michael Grieco.
Howard was arrested by the Davie Police Department on a domestic battery charge Dec. 29, just hours after the Dolphins pulled off a season-ending upset victory over the New England Patriots.
The decision to drop the charges clears Howard of further legal consequences, but the NFL is investigating the matter and Howard could be subject to further discipline from the league based on its personal conduct policy.
Howard's fiancée signed an affidavit of non-prosecution and told prosecutors that she didn't want to proceed with the case and did not fear for her safety going forward, per the Broward County state's attorney's office. Because there were no other witnesses, prosecutors felt they couldn't proceed with the case without testimony from her.
Per the arrest report obtained by ESPN in December, Howard was accused of grabbing his fiancée's arms and pushing her against a mirrored glass wall in the hall of their bedroom, causing her to fall and land on his walking crutch.
An officer said he observed scratches and redness on her right wrist and forearm from Howard grabbing her and an abrasion and redness from the fall.
Howard, 26, was processed at the Davie Police Department, then transported to a hospital when he complained of knee pain from a recent surgery. He was then transferred to Broward County Jail. He paid $3,000 bond.
Police said the altercation stemmed from a recent purchase of a purse. Howard and his fiancée live together and share three children.
The Dolphins placed Howard on injured reserve with a knee injury in October, and he had recently undergone surgery.
Coach Brian Flores addressed the issue in his season-ending news conference on Dec. 30, saying the team takes the allegations against Howard seriously.
"We're still gathering information on that. We take situations like that very, very serious. We're gathering information. It's unfortunate," Flores said. "How does it impact us? It does impact us. Again, we take these things very seriously. We'll gather all information and do what we feel is best for the organization.
Flores said the front office would make a decision once it gets all the information it needs.
Howard made the Pro Bowl in 2018 after tying for the NFL lead in interceptions. He signed a five-year, $75.25 million extension in May.