Celebrity Chef Paul Qui Arrested For Horrific Domestic Violence Assault

TV personality and James Beard award-winning chef Paul Qui (Qui in Austin) has been arrested after allegedly violently assaulting his girlfriend. Qui was arrested Saturday morning after police responded to a call from a friend who believed that "he and his girlfriend were fighting."

According to a police report obtained by the local Austin NBC syndicate KXAN, officers arrived to a chaotic scene: They heard screaming and yelling from inside the apartment. When chef Qui, 31 opened the door, they noted that his face was covered in blood. Furniture was broken and in disarray, there was blood "smeared all over the walls and floor of the apartment," and Qui's live-in girlfriend was crying and clutching a small child in her arms.[slideshow: 1687333]

The victim then told cops her account of the horrific events, saying that Qui was "very controlling and jealous." She said that she had been asleep with her small son when Qui arrived home intoxicated and with friends. He convinced her to join in the revelry, and Qui soon began accusing his friends of "flirting with" his girlfriend. The victim stated that her boyfriend became enraged, kicked his friends out, and began kicking over furniture. She tried to leave with her son but he blocked the entrance to the door.

Qui was charged with unlawful restraint, a Class A misdemeanor, as well as assault causing bodily injury to a family member, a Class A misdemeanor. He posted bond and was released later that day, according to KXAN.

Qui's press representatives did not return a request for comment from The Daily Meal.