Vikings' Peterson charged with resisting arrest
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was arrested early Saturday morning and charged with resisting arrest in his offseason hometown of Houston.
Peterson, 27, was taken into custody about 2:30 a.m. CT, according to the Houston Chronicle, which first reported the incident.
Peterson was in the Houston police department's central jail until 10:30 a.m. CT and released on $1,000 bond, according to FOXSports.com's A.J. Perez. The running back was arrested at Bayou Place, which is located in the downtown theater district and bills itself as "Houston's premier dining and entertainment experience."
Houston Police Department spokesperson Kese Smith told The Associated Press that an off-duty officer working security at the nightclub asked Peterson and the people he was with to leave because the club was closed. The officer, who Smith told Associated Press identified himself, left to tell other patrons to leave the club before returning to Peterson's group and making the same request.
Smith said Peterson told the officer he heard him the first time and pushed the officer in the shoulder, causing him to stumble. The officer told Peterson he was under arrest and to put his hands behind his back. According to AP, Peterson began yelling and "assumed an aggressive stance," so another off-duty officer offered help. Peterson continued to struggle with both officers until he was handcuffed with the help of a third off-duty officer. Smith told AP that Peterson complained of shortness of breath after he was taken to a Houston jail. The player was examined by Houston Fire Department personnel, who determined Peterson was fine.
According to the arrest record, Peterson was charged with "Resist arrest/seach-unclassified." The charge is a Class A misdemeanor in Texas, punishable with up to one year in county jail and/or a fine not to exceed $4,000 or up to two years of community supervision.
"We are aware of the situation and are gathering more information," a Vikings spokesperson said. "At this point we will have no further comment."
The incident is the latest in a string of arrests involving Vikings players since coach Leslie Frazier was promoted from interim status in January 2011.
Defensive end Everson Griffen was arrested twice in three days in January 2011 on charges of public intoxication and felony battery after he allegedly assaulted a police officer. Cornerback Chris Cook was arrested in March 2011 on suspicion of brandishing a weapon at another man. Cook also was arrested last season and charged with domestic assault/strangulation, but he was later acquitted.
Quarterback Rhett Bomar and safety Tyrell Johnson were each arrested for suspicion of DWIs last season. Bomar was arrested in August and later was released among training camp cuts. Johnson's incident occurred in September. He signed with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent this offseason.
Vikings backup running back Caleb King was arrested in May on a charge of of third-degree assault. He was released a day later. Most recently, newly signed fullback Jerome Felton was arrested in June on a second-degree DWI charge.
And this isn't Peterson's first off-field incident. In 2009, he was pulled over in Minnesota for driving 109 mph in a 55-mph zone. In 2010, he was pulled over for going 53 mph in a 35-mph zone.
Peterson hasn't commented publicly about his arrest Saturday, but he wrote on his Twitter page late Friday, "Looking forward to reporting to training camp on July 26th. Hard work and Dedication."
A native of Palistine, Texas, Peterson has spent the offseason rehabilitating after undergoing surgery in December to repair torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee. He has split time at the Vikings' facilities and in Houston during his rehab. The six-year NFL veteran and four-time Pro Bowl selection has set a goal of returning for the team's Sept. 9 season opener.
Peterson signed a seven-year, $100 million contract extension during the 2011 preseason that made him the highest-paid running back in the league. The four-time 1,200-yard rusher finished 2011 with a career-low 970 rushing yards after suffering the ACL tear in a Week 16 game against the Washington Redskins.
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