Former Arizona Coyotes forward Alex Galchenyuk was arrested on July 9 after a hit-and-run incident in Scottsdale. During the encounter, he reportedly made violent threats to the police officers.
The team had signed Galchenyuk on July 1, but they voided his contract after becoming aware of the incident. The Arizona Coyotes released a statement condemning his behavior and announced that they were terminating his contract for a material breach.
According to the local CBS affiliate Arizona’s Family, police responded to a hit-and-run incident involving a drunk driver in a BMW sedan. The car ran over a curb and hit a sign in a parking lot.
When police arrived, they found Galchenyuk lying on the ground near his car. Witnesses reported seeing his father picking him up and putting him in the passenger seat before driving away. However, officers later pulled them over. Witnesses stated that it was Galchenyuk who was driving the car.
Galchenyuk was reportedly heavily impaired and smelled of alcohol. He allegedly refused to cooperate with the officers and threatened them by claiming to have connections in Russia who could harm them and their loved ones.
The victim of the hit-and-run, located in a nearby parking lot, did not suffer physical injuries but her vehicle was damaged. She intends to press charges against Galchenyuk. He has been booked on multiple charges, including hit-and-run, resisting arrest, and threatening.