Megan Welter, Iraq Vet-Turned-NFL Cheerleader, Was Arrested For Alleged Assault

Just days after Megan Welter took the internet by storm with her story – going from Iraq War veteran to Cheerleader for the NFL Arizona Cardinals – Welter was arrested for alleged assault, criminal damage and disorderly conduct.

In 2007, Welter enlisted, went to Officer Training school and was eventually deployed to Iraq, where she spent 16 months working at a base in communications. When she returned in 2011, Welter decided to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a professional dancer, and tried out for the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleading team. She has been dancing with them ever since.

Recently, her story went viral, and interviews of the Iraq vet and cheerleader were being shared all over the web.

Welter was heralded as an American hero until news of her July 20 arrest was revealed on Thursday. According to 3TV, an Arizona Phoenix news station, Welters was arrested after allegedly assaulting her boyfriend while heavily intoxicated. The boyfriend filmed the altercation. Welters can clearly be seen yelling and hitting her boyfriend while he begs her to calm down.

Welter was reportedly celebrating her birthday when the night deteriorated into violence. The boyfriend stated that she saw a text on his phone from another girl and lost it.

It was, however, Welter who called the authorities, saying “My boyfriend just became abusive. We just got into a physical fight.”

Though Welter initially claimed her boyfriend had started the abuse, police found no physical signs of the alleged violence against her when they arrived at the scene.

“People make mistakes, no one is perfect…I hope that this doesn’t take away from the good things she has done for both the NFL, as well as the service to our country,” said the boyfriend in a statement to 3TV on Friday.

Both Welter and the Arizona Cardinals have yet to comment.

— Olivia Truffaut-Wong

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