Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin is in the middle of a legal dispute.
Griffin is facing a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from an Oct. 19 dust-up with a fellow patron at the Tao nightclub in Las Vegas. Security footage shows Griffin involved in an altercation with his accuser, Daniel Schuman, but does not capture the NBA star slapping the man, TMZ Sports reported Thursday, citing law enforcement sources.
Griffin “wilfully and unlawfully used force or violence” on Schuman, according to the filing Wednesday in the Clark County District Attorney’s office, ESPN.com reported. Griffin allegedly squeezed Schuman’s hand and shoulder and/or slapped him on the face. The four-time All-Star was upset about camera flashes in his face and grabbed the accuser’s cell phone and neck, Schuman told TMZ Sports.
Griffin is due for arraignment Dec. 8. The maximum penalty, if Griffin is convicted, is six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, according to police.
“I trust Blake 100 percent,” Clippers head coach Doc Rivers told reporters Wednesday. “He’s a great kid. We’ll figure it out and get through it.”
“I can’t say much, but I feel very confident things will work out,” Rivers added.
Teammates DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul were with Griffin at the club on the night of the alleged incident but were not involved. Jordan told TMZ Sports he never saw Griffin strike anyone that night.
Photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
