When the Arizona Coyotes issued a statement condemning the behavior of Alex Galchenyuk that led to his contract termination, the details of his run-in with law enforcement weren’t made public.
After the police report from the arrest was made public, it appears the Coyotes made the right call in severing ties with the 29-year-old forward who signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the team on July 1.
Galchenyuk showed signs of intoxication and threatened to have two police officers killed while referencing connections he had in Moscow during a traffic stop last weekend. He also reportedly yelled racial slurs at an officer in training as well.
“I’m going to chop you, your wife, your daughter” Galchenyuk allegedly said, via the Washington Post. “One phone call and you’re all dead, your whole family, your blood line is dead.”
Galchenyuk reportedly tried to downplay the severity of his threats after he was arrested.
“I explained to him the distressing nature of his threats," an officer wrote in the report, via Fox10 Phoenix. "He replied that he was still ‘making the phone call,’ he then laughed and said he was ‘joking.’”
The NHL Players Association has 60 days from the date Galchenyuk’s contract was terminated to file a grievance with the league. An NHLPA spokesperson told The Athletic they were looking into the matter.
On the hit and run incident: police said that “it was only property damage and no injuries.”
— Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) July 13, 2023
Jail official said he was booked into city jail on Sunday evening and released the following day on his own recognizance. According to court records, Galchenyuk was arraigned on Monday
Witnesses told police they saw Galchenyuk driving a BMW that had hit a curb and taken out a traffic sign. When officers arrived, Galchenyuk was reportedly laying on the ground approximately 20 feet away from the wrecked vehicle. Galchenyuk got into the passenger seat of another man’s car before officers removed and handcuffed him.
Galchenyuk is facing several charges from the incident including property hit-and-run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest, and threatening or intimidating.
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