Sheriff’s report: Kings’ Artest slapped victim

? Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest slapped a woman’s face and grabbed her repeatedly, causing visible injuries, according to a sheriff’s report made public Tuesday.

Artest was arrested Monday after a woman inside his home in a Sacramento suburb called 911 and said she had been assaulted. In a portion of the 911 tape released by authorities, the woman described injuries to her hand and leg.

“Victim sustained visible trauma after being repeatedly grabbed by Artest and pushed to the floor,” said the Placer County Sheriff’s Department report. “Artest then slapped victim’s face (and) by use of force prevented victim from leaving.”

The report also said Artest took a phone from the woman the first time she tried to call 911.

Artest was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and using force or violence to prevent the woman from reporting a crime. He was released from custody after posting a $50,000 bond and is awaiting a March 22 arraignment.

“Ron Artest, his family and supporters are working diligently to address this stressful situation,” his agent, Mark Stevens, said in a statement. “Please be aware that Mr. Artest’s main priorities are that of his family and his professional commitment to the Sacramento Kings. Ron’s wife and children are respectfully requesting that you allow them the privacy needed to handle these matters in an appropriate manner.”

In the 911 tape, released Tuesday by the sheriff’s department, the woman calls a police dispatcher upset that Artest is leaving in a vehicle. After learning it’s registered in both their names, the dispatcher says Artest has the legal right to take the vehicle.

The woman starts to hang up, then mentions “domestic violence.”

“Ma’am, is there some fighting going on right now?” the dispatcher asks.

“Yeah, and he’s upset,” the woman replies.

“Did he hit you?” he asks.

“Oh, yeah, my hand is bleeding; I’ve got a scratch on my leg,” she replies.

“Do you need medical, ma’am?”

“No. No. My finger’s just bleeding. It’s not stopping, but it’s just bleeding. I’m not worried about my finger,” the woman says.

The department released the initial 82 seconds of the call, which continued for about 15 minutes until deputies arrived at the home, sheriff’s spokeswoman Dena Erwin said.

Erwin said she could not elaborate on the nature of the woman’s injuries. She also would not disclose the woman’s relationship to Artest.

Authorities said a 3-year-old girl was inside the house at the time of the argument. She can be heard in the background of the 911 tape, talking to “daddy” and “mommy.”

Deputies have responded to 911 calls from Artest’s home five other times since last August, including at least two involving domestic disturbances between Artest and his wife, Kimsha.