Details surrounding an alleged January domestic dispute involving Steelers receiver Antonio Brown have emerged.
According to a police incident report obtained by ESPN, the star wideout pushed the mother of his daughter to the ground after she would not let him close the front door of his residence and was told to leave. Brown used both hands to push her and she told the police she sustained a wrist injury in the fall.
She did not complete a victim affidavit and no arrests were made.
Brown is in the process of seeking full custody of his daughter after the incident, and his lawyer, Darren Heitner, said in a statement that “the closed police report proves that Antonio Brown did absolutely nothing wrong.”
“Unfortunately, the media alluded wrongdoing on the part of my client in a ‘domestic dispute’ when in fact no wrongdoing ever occurred on his part. The complainant, who is the mother of Mr. Brown’s child, acknowledged that she refused to leave Mr. Brown’s property after being asked and further refused to leave the doorway of his personal residence. The complainant did not want to provide a statement or press charges, and asked to retract her report after it was made,” Heitner added.
“The media must be held to a higher standard and should issue an apology to my client for harming his reputation without cause and without full report in their possession. Additionally, the complainant unnecessarily involved my client’s minor child in her false reporting, causing irreparable harm to a minor child. Therefore, Antonio Brown’s family law attorney, Jaclyn Soroka, Esq. will be filing an action with the Court today seeking full legal custody of his child accordingly.”
It’s the latest off-field drama for Brown, who provided plenty of football-related spectacle this season. He missed the Steelers’ final game of the season after reportedly feuding with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during practice.
Team owner Art Rooney II said it would be “hard to envision” the seven-time Pro Bowler back with the team next season, but will not be releasing him.
The NFL is investigating the incident and could complicate the Steelers’ ability to trade him.