Mekhi Nelson, a running back for the University of Nebraska, was arrested on Monday, June 29, following an alleged incident with his pregnant girlfriend. This information comes from arrest records reviewed by Us Weekly, with TMZ Sports being the first to report the news.
Nelson, 20, faced a misdemeanor battery charge after police were called to an alleged altercation at the Blue Flamingo Resort in Key West that morning. He was charged with aggravated battery involving a pregnant woman and was released on a $5,000 bond.
The Nebraska Athletic Department and its football program issued a statement to KOLN, acknowledging Nelson’s arrest in Florida but declining to comment further at that time.
Upon police arrival, a woman, who identified herself as seven months pregnant with her second child with Nelson, reported that an argument ensued when Nelson became upset over the time she took to get ready.
The woman explained that she locked Nelson out of their room, but let him back in after he started banging on the door. She expressed concern that the incident might impact their stay at the resort, as stated in a police report obtained by TMZ.
She further alleged that Nelson’s anger escalated, and he threw her phone across the room as she attempted to contact her mother. The woman accused Nelson of tearing her bathing suit off and scratching her stomach. She also reported a scratch on her thigh, noting that this was not the first such incident between them.
Nelson shared a different account with the police, stating the argument began over another man, who shares a child with the woman, speaking to her, which triggered his anger.
The report mentioned that Nelson was emotional on his way to jail, reportedly saying he felt like his father, who had been imprisoned during his childhood.
Nelson, a redshirt sophomore for the Cornhuskers, had a season with 27 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns. He also made eight receptions totaling 102 yards and was poised to compete for a starting position.
His standout performance last season was in the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah, where he scored a 38-yard touchdown, despite the team’s 44-22 loss.
Nelson is set to be arraigned in a Key West court on July 9 at 9 a.m.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. https://www.thehotline.org/


