U.S. bobsledder Bill Schuffenhauer arrested for domestic violence at Vancouver Winter Olympics
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A U.S. bobsleigh athlete was arrested Wednesday in Whistler, B.C., for allegedly assaulting his domestic partner. RCMP are recommending prosecutors that he will be charged with assaulting and threatening his common-law partner.
A member of the Integrated Security Unit, which has been assembled to secure the Olympics, separated a man and a woman who were fighting outside a townhouse. The RCMP interviewed the woman and determined that an assault had taken place. The woman had minor injuries. RCMP arrested the man, booked him for assault and released him after he posted a $500 cash bond. He was ordered to have no contact with the woman.
While the RCMP did not release the man's name, the U.S. Olympic Committee identified the accused as Bill Schuffenhauer, 36.
"We understand that late last evening (February 24) Bill Schuffenhauer, a member of the US bobsled team, was detained and released by authorities in Whistler. At this point we are awaiting further details," Patrick Sandusky, the United States Olympic Committee's chief spokesman, said in a statement.
Darren Steele, chief executive of US Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, said they were standing by Schuffenhauer.
"Billy was brought in, he answered questions for two to three hours and was let go," he said in a statement.
Schuffenhauer, an Olympic silver medallist in 2002, continued training Thursday and is expected to compete in Friday's four-man bobsled at the Vancouver Games.
He is scheduled to appear in provincial court in North Vancouver on April 21.