David Coverdale Ex, Tawny Kitaen, Spends Two Nights In Jail
By
Sefany Jones,
Contributing Editor
Thursday, April 4, 2002 @ 2:40 PM
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From The Orange County Register :
The actress wife of former Anaheim Angels pitcher Chuck Finley was charged Wednesday with kicking her 6-foot-6, 236-pound husband with one of her high heels as he drove their Land Rover back to their Newport Beach estate after dining out.
Tawny Kitaen Finley, 40, who has been featured in such movies as "Bachelor Party'' and "California Girls'' and in sultry MTV videos, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of domestic violence.
Her arrest Monday night shattered the image of the ideal glamour couple, posing together in the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated and enjoying life in Newport Coast with their two young daughters.
Tawny Kitaen Finley spent two days in jail and was released on her own recognizance Wednesday night. Stone-faced and pale, she walked out of the Orange County Jail in Santa Ana at 9:20 p.m. and into a wall of television cameras and reporters. She ignored shouted questions before she got into a black limousine and was driven away.
During a brief hearing Wednesday, Judge Pamela Iles ordered Tawny Kitaen Finley to stay away from her husband, a hard-throwing left-hander whose team, the Cleveland Indians, was in town this week for a series against his former teammates.
Chuck Finley, earning $7.9 million this season, was the scheduled starting pitcher Wednesday night. But he called Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro about 1 p.m. to inform him that he would not be able to pitch.
"Chuck expressed to me that he was going through a personal issue of an extremely private nature and could not make it to the ballpark, and if he could, he would not be able to pitch,'' Shapiro said.
Chuck Finley told Shapiro that he was physically fine and would rejoin the team "in a short period of time.'' Manager Charlie Manuel said he expects Finley to pitch again April 8 or 9.
"He's just trying to take care of his kids and his family right now,'' Shapiro said.
Tawny Kitaen Finley was arrested about 9 p.m. Monday after police responded to a 911 hang-up call at their multi-million-dollar estate in Newport Coast.
Prosecutors said a "third party," not Chuck Finley, made the 911 call.
The alleged battery occurred when the 5-foot-7, 145-pound Tawny Kitaen Finley argued with her husband in their SUV and repeatedly kicked him with her high heel, striking his right leg, thigh and arm and causing cuts and scrapes on his right arm, prosecutors allege.
At one point, Tawny Kitaen Finley allegedly pressed her high heel on top of Finley's foot, which was on the gas pedal. Chuck Finley remained in control of the car.
The argument spilled into the Finleys' home, where the emergency call was made.
"Our officers responded and determined that she was the aggressor, and she was taken into custody,'' said Newport Beach police Sgt. Steve Shulman.
Chuck Finley had no say in whether his wife would be arrested.
"It (arrest) is a standard thing in these types of situations,'' Shulman said.
Tawny Kitaen Finley's lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Steve Daniels, had no comment.
She was charged with one count of corporal injury on a spouse and one count of battery, which triggered the restraining order. Iles ordered her to stay away from her husband until further notice.
Arraignment was set for April 29.
Because the charges are misdemeanors, Tawny Kitaen Finley was not required to appear in court.
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