Dalvin Cook's Lawyer Says Cook Was The One Assaulted By Ex-Girlfriend At His Home

The lawyer for Minnesota Vikings star running back Dalvin Cook said Cook was assaulted by an ex-girlfriend who broke into his home, then later tried to extort him of millions of dollars.

The incident reportedly took place a year ago, in November 2020.

Dave Valentini, Cook's attorney, was responding to a report by the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the woman had filed a lawsuit in Dakota County District Court. The suit reportedly accuses Cook of assault, battery and false imprisonment.

The ex-girlfriend, identified as Gracelyn Trimble and a sergeant in the U.S. Army, flew to Minnesota to break up with Cooks and retrieve her belongings when things became violent, she alleged in the lawsuit.

She accused Cook of giving her a concussion, leaving a scar on her face and "taking me through hell," the Star Tribune reported.

The suit went on to say that Trimble used Mace on Cook before grabbing his gun and calling a friend for help. Cook then attacked her with a broomstick, she alleged.

Trimble returned to Florida and received treatment for injuries, telling medical personnel she had sustained her injuries in an ATV accident.

Valentini's statement painted a different picture, accusing Trimble of using a stolen garage door opener to enter Cook's home and then attacking Cook and a guest while there. Valentini said Trimble used Mace on Cook and his guests, then held them at gunpoint for hours.

The Vikings released a statement of their own, saying that they "recently received notification from Dalvin Cook's legal representative regarding a situation that occurred between Dalvin and a female acquaintance in November 2020 and led to an ongoing dispute between the parties. Upon learning of this, we immediately notified the NFL. We are in the process of gathering more information and will withhold further comment at this time."

Police were never contacted about the incident and no charges were filed.

Cook has appeared in six games this season, compiling 554 yards on 115 carries. He finished last season with with a career-high 1,557 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, plus 361 receiving yards and one TD. This despite missing one game with a groin injury and the last one following the unexpected death of his father

Written by
Sam Amico spent 15 years covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports and NBA.com, along with a few other spots, and currently runs his own basketball website on the side, FortyEightMinutes.com.