Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on a charge of reckless or negligent injury to a child, KRIV-TV in Houston reported, and the team later announced he will not play Sunday against the New England Patriots.
The indictment occurred in Montgomery County, Texas, a suburb of Houston. KRIV-TV reached out to Peterson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, who initially declined to comment but later confirmed the indictment.
“We are working on a statement,” Hardin said.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport shed more light on the situation on Twitter.
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[tweet https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/510531877115944960 align=’center’%5D
UPDATE (6:30 p.m.): The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement to KRIV-TV:
“On Thursday, September 11, 2014, a Montgomery County Grand Jury, “true billed”, Adrian Lewis Peterson on a charge of injury to a child. On today’s date at 2:47 PM, a warrant was issued and entered for the arrest of Adrian Peterson for that charge. Since the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has referred the case to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, and the investigation has led to a, “true bill”, on a criminal offense, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will not discuss details in reference to the case or investigation. At the time of this release, Adrian Peterson is not in custody at the Montgomery County Jail and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office does not have any details in the arrest of Adrian Peterson.
UPDATE (7:08 p.m.): Peterson’s lawyer released a statement, per ProFootballTalk, and confirmed Rapoport’s sourced information.
“Adrian Peterson has been informed that he was indicted by a grand jury in Montgomery County, Texas for Injury to a Child. The charged conduct involves using a switch to spank his son. This indictment follows Adrian’s full cooperation with authorities who have been looking into this matter. Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son. He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas. Adrian has never hidden from what happened. He has cooperated fully with authorities and voluntarily testified before the grand jury for several hours. Adrian will address the charges with the same respect and responsiveness he has brought to this inquiry from its beginning. It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury.”
Thumbnail photo via Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports Images
