Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was arrested over the weekend for assault, strangulation and other charges after a disturbance at a home, police said on Monday.
Police in Braintree, Massachusetts said they were called to a home early on Saturday morning after reports of an altercation between two people. According to police, Peppers shoved a woman to the ground, pushed her head into a wall and placed his hands around her neck. The woman told police Peppers choked her at least six times and forced her out of the home. Police say she was treated by medical personnel at the scene after declining to go to hospital.
The 29-year-old Peppers appeared in court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation and possession of cocaine. Peppers posted bail of $2,500. His attorney, Marc Brofsky, said there is evidence that “sheds real doubt on the allegations, including videotaped evidence”. He added that his client has agreed not to contact the alleged victim.
“We are aware of an incident involving Jabrill Peppers over the weekend in which the police are currently investigating. We will have no further comment at this time,” the Patriots said in a statement on Monday.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said Peppers would be allowed to attend the team facility for the time being. “We don’t know enough to say he shouldn’t be in the building,” Mayo said.
Peppers, who is a team captain for New England, did not appear in the Patriots’ 15-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday due to a shoulder injury.
The Patriots signed Peppers, who is in his third season with the team, to a $24m contract extension over the summer. Peppers was originally drafted by Cleveland in 2017 and spent two seasons with the Browns before playing for the New York Giants for three seasons.