Former San Francisco and Oakland offensive lineman Kwame Harris faces felony domestic violence charges after allegedly beating up an ex-boyfriend in the parking lot of a restaurant after an argument over soy sauce. The former 2003 first round draft pick had an uneventful career until his retirement in 2008. He did not come out as gay during his time with the NFL.
San Mateo Police have released details of the incident:
The trouble started Aug. 21 when Harris — a former first round NFL draft pick who played college football at Stanford — and ex-boyfriend Dimitri Geier of Los Angeles were sharing dinner at Su Hong restaurant in Menlo Park, according to attorneys and a prosecutor. Harris was to drive Geier to San Francisco International Airport for a flight following the meal. But the men began to argue after Geier poured soy sauce on some rice, which upset Harris, according to a lawsuit Geier filed in San Mateo County in October.
The arguing continued and escalated, until finally Harris withdrew his offer to drop Geier off at the airport. Geier agreed to take a cab instead, but as they went to retrieve his bags from Harris’ car the dispute turned violent. Harris allegedly tried to pull down Geier’s pants and accused him of stealing his underwear, according to the suit. At some point the struggle came to blows.
The punches from Harris broke bones around Geier’s eye socket and led to a metal plate being installed in his face and other surgeries, said his attorney Craig Charles. He added Geier, who had been in a four-year, on-and-off relationship with Harris, may require more surgery because the metal plate has shifted.
Harris’ attorneys are claiming self-defense.