THE ACTOR Charlie Sheen pinned his wife to a bed, held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her in a Christmas morning argument that led to his arrest on domestic violence charges, according to his wife’s police statement.
The star of such films as Wall Street and Platoon – who has a history of drug abuse and domestic violence allegations against him, and had a messy divorce from his previous wife – was charged early on Friday with assault, menacing, domestic violence and other counts.
In a 911 call to police in Aspen, Colorado, Sheen’s wife, Brooke Mueller, a real estate investor, said – between sobs – that Sheen menaced her with a pocket knife and threatened to kill her.
The arrest affidavit identifies Sheen (44) by his real name, Carlos Estevez. When police arrived, they found Ms Mueller in a kitchen sobbing uncontrollably. She told police the couple had argued in an upstairs bedroom at about 3.30am and she said she wanted a divorce and custody of the children. In addition to the couple’s nine-month-old twin boys, Sheen has three daughters from previous relationships. He married Ms Mueller in May 2008.
Ms Mueller said Sheen flew into a rage, wrestled her to the bed, grabbed her by the throat, pulled a knife and held it to her neck.
“You better be in fear,” Sheen said, according to Ms Mueller’s account. “If you tell anyone I’ll kill you. Your mother’s money means nothing. I have ex-police I can hire who know how to get the job done and they won’t leave any trace.”
The officer noted red marks on Ms Mueller’s neck. She told police similar incidents had occurred before. Sheen told officers the couple had been having marital problems and Ms Mueller was abusing alcohol.
He said the argument started when he played a song for one of his daughters and that Ms Mueller was jealous of his relationship with the girl. The argument escalated and the two began slapping one another’s arms.
He denied pushing or striking Ms Mueller or threatening her with a knife. Police seized a folding knife with a 10cm (4in) blade. Sheen was arrested and released on bail of $8,500 (€5,890).
Sheen divorced actor Denise Richards in 2006 after a bitter fight. There were accusations he was verbally abusive, gambled excessively and abused prescription drugs. The pair had an acrimonious custody dispute over their daughters.
Sheen told police after his fight with Ms Mueller that he lost his temper when she threatened him over child custody.
In 1990 and 1998 Sheen was treated for drug abuse including an overdose of cocaine. During the trial of “Hollywood Madam” Heidi Fleiss, it was revealed Sheen ordered prostitutes more than two dozen times at a cost of $50,000.
A prosecuting lawyer for Pitkin county, Colorado, told the Associated Press Sheen could face two to eight years in prison and fines of up to $500,000 if he is convicted of menacing, the most serious charge.
Since 2003, Sheen has starred in the CBS television comedy Two and a Half Men. – (Guardian service)