Local Chef Paul Qui arrested for assaulting his girlfriend
Photo Courtesy: Travis County Sheriff's Office
The Austin Police Department arrested local chef Paul Qui, 35, and charged him with assault causing bodily injury after he allegedly beat up his girlfriend.
According to the arrest affidavit, police were called to Qui's apartment in East Austin on March 19th after receiving a disturbance call. After arriving, police located Qui's business partner in the hallway who led them to the apartment where Qui and his girlfriend were arguing. Police could hear yelling and screaming through the door.
Police said Qui answered the door but his face, arms, legs, and clothes were covered in blood. Police also found Qui's girlfriend, holding onto her young son, crying on the couch.
According to police, the apartment was "in complete disarray" with broken furniture and glass spread throughout and blood smears on the walls and floors.
The victim told police she and Qui had been dating for a year and living together for eight months. She also told police Qui is "very controlling and extremely jealous."
According to police, the victim told them Qui was hanging out with friends "indulging in cocaine, xanax, marijuana, and alcohol." During the party she said Qui became very jealous and accused his friends of flirting with her and wanting to have sex with her and eventually Qui kicked his friends out of the apartment.
The victim told police that Qui was very angry and began throwing furniture and breaking glass in front of her and her young son. The victim tried to leave the apartment with her son multiple times but Qui blocked the door, shoved her back, and eventually threw her into the walls of the apartment.
According to the affidavit, Qui told the victim that she wasn't going anywhere and continued to throw her around the apartment.
Police said the victim had several cuts and bruises and she had a swollen jaw.
According to police, Qui admitted to kicking his friends out of the apartment, damaging the furniture, arguing with his girlfriend, and preventing her from leaving because he wanted police to see the damage in the apartment and he wanted to tell his side of the story.
Qui was taken to the Travis County Jail and held on a $5,000 bond. He later bonded out.
Qui is the owner and chef of qui restaurant and East Side King in East Austin. He also appeared on season nine of Bravo's Top Chef, winning the competition.