The video of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee Janay Palmer in an Atlantic City, N.J. elevator was sent to the attention of NFL security chief Jeffrey Miller back in April, according to a law enforcement officer who spoke Thursday with The Associated Press.
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“I unequivocally deny that I received at any time a copy of the video and I had not watched it until it was made public on September 8,” Miller told TheWrap in a statement.
The source, who wished to remain anonymous because he wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the case, said a DVD copy of the brutal attack video was addressed to the NFL security chief, but he could not say whether the package was received by Miller or if the DVD was viewed by anyone.
“Since the NFLPA and NFL have launched separate investigations into the league and the Ravens’ handling of Ray Rice’s case, I want to make a few things clear. No one from the NFL ever asked me for the inside-elevator video,” said the anonymous official.
“I mailed it anonymously to Jeff Miller because he’s their head of security. I attached a note saying: ‘Ray Rice elevator video. You have to see it. It’s terrible.’ I provided a number for a disposable cellphone and asked for confirmation that it was received. I knew there was a possibility Mr. Miller may not get the video, but I hoped it would land in the right hands.”
“My intention wasn’t to bring down Commissioner Goodell or anyone else at the NFL,” he continued.
The source said the NFL did leave him a 12-second voicemail, which confirmed receipt of the package and included a woman’s voice describing the contents of the tape. “You’re right. It’s terrible,” she reportedly said in the message.
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Miller, who joined the NFL in 2008, is currently in London preparing for an upcoming game being played abroad between the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders. He’s in charge of overseeing investigations and of securing event venues for the league.
According to the AP’s report, he and the league’s other security employees do not typically gather evidence themselves when the league’s players get arrested. Instead they rely upon court documents and any publicly available information.
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As TheWrap previously reported, the NFL and its commissioner Roger Goodell have repeatedly denied viewing the elevator assault tape before TMZ released it on Sept. 8, which resulted in the Ravens terminating their contract with Rice and the league suspending him indefinitely.