---

MANSFIELD - New England Patriots defensive back Willie Andrews allegedly pointed an unlicensed .45-caliber handgun at his girlfriend's head at his Mansfield apartment early Monday after she accused him of cheating on her.

However, Andrews' attorney says police didn't arrest the Patriot until the third time they saw him that morning - at his home in the Mansfield Depot complex, where he cooperated.

Police searched Andrews' car and the area surrounding his apartment for the gun. Two Mansfield Depot employees reported finding a gun about 9:45 a.m. near a Dumpster in the complex.

Police are trying to connect Andrews to the weapon, Assistant District Attorney Derek Coyne said.

Andrews, 24, of 10 Connors Ave., Apt. 203A, was ordered held without bail following his arraignment before Attleboro District Court Judge Gregory Phillips. Police charged Andrews with possession of a large-capacity firearm without a firearm identification card, and assault by means of a dangerous weapon, the gun.

Andrews now faces a dangerousness hearing Thursday in Attleboro District Court.

Both charges are felonies, said Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.

Patriots spokesman Stacey James issued a terse statement regarding the incident.

"The New England Patriots take the conduct of our players very seriously," James said. "We are aware of the very disturbing and alarming reports regarding Willie Andrews. We will not offer any additional comment, as is our policy regarding pending legal matters."

The alleged incident was precipitated when Andrews' 23-year-old girlfriend spoke with him about his alleged cheating about 7 p.m. Sunday after having talked with the other woman on the phone.

She told police she and Andrews had been engaged for 1 1/2 months, and they have been together for about three years. She had moved to Mansfield from Virginia to be with him.

The woman said she packed for herself and their 19-month-old child from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. Monday, when Andrews came home and confronted her in the child's bedroom.

"He came home and was waving a gun (.45-caliber Glock) and touched my temple. He continued waving the gun as he started throwing my items into my suitcase and onto the floor," the woman wrote in a statement to police.

Police responding to the woman's 911 call at 1:39 a.m. Monday said they saw Andrews near garages across from his apartment building. When they advised him of the allegations, Andrews verbally agreed to allow police to search his car. They did not find a gun in the car or the surrounding area.

The woman and her child left the apartment to seek shelter at the Courtyard-Boston Foxboro hotel at 35 Foxboro Blvd. in Foxboro during the search.

Later in the morning, police saw Andrews talking to the woman in the hotel parking lot while she was in her car.

When police arrived, Andrews walked away from the car and left.

Police spoke to the woman again. They asked if she was in fear, and she said yes "because he has threatened to shoot her in the past."

The woman then wrote a voluntary statement about the incident.

Police returned to Andrews' apartment, where they arrested him without incident about 4:20 p.m., and charged him with assault with a dangerous weapon.

He was held overnight without bail.

Andrews' attorney, Sean Delaney, told the court that police spoke to the football player once and saw him a second time but did not arrest him.

Andrews also paid the woman's hotel bill, Delaney said.

The arrest was Andrews' second this year.

In February, he was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after police allegedly found him with a half-pound of marijuana during a car stop. In May, the case was continued without finding after Andrews reportedly admitted to sufficient facts for a guilty finding.

Andrews, 24, was drafted by the Patriots out of Baylor University in Texas in the last round of the 2006 NFL draft.

He has played mainly on special teams for the Patriots, the highlight being a 77-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last Oct. 10 against the Miami Dolphins.