Rodney Austin was arrested on April 17 and was charged with misdemeanor larceny and interfering with emergency communication in his home state of North Carolina according to a records search of the Office of the Sheriff of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
On Tuesday, April 21st, the Detroit Lions released him from the team. It has been noted in the past that Lions coach Jim Caldwell has said in the past that he has a no-tolerance policy concerning domestic violence.
Via ESPN:
“In the police report obtained by ESPN.com, it alleges Austin pushed the woman down at the Alexander Place Apartments in Charlotte, North Carolina, while she was holding their 9-month old child. No arrests were made at the time of the report, which was filed April 5 at 2:20 a.m., and stated that neither the woman nor the child was injured.
Austin’s attorney, in his release, stated police left after examining the woman and the child without making any arrests. On April 16, the woman went to a magistrate judge, who issued a warrant for Austin’s arrest.”
Following his release Austin’s attorney had some things to say:
“Austin’s agent, Mark Magazu, said Austin turned himself in and was released later that day. Magazu said the allegations stem from a custody dispute with the mother of Austin’s child and that Austin’s attorney, Mark Jetton, will soon be releasing documents related to the case.
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Jetton said his client has authorized him to pursue a civil suit against the woman claiming “malicious prosecution, defamation of character and slander.” Austin believes the allegations made against him are retaliatory due to “disagreements over the future of their relationship.”
“This is an issue with a woman Rodney has known for a long time; they have a child together and they have had difficulties together that they have been working through,” Magazu said. “I think that the record, once all the information is out, I think that it will be clear that the charges as everybody is seeing them are not what occurred.”
Magazu said he told Lions general manager Martin Mayhew when the incident occurred earlier this month. A warrant then was put out for Austin’s arrest after the accuser went to a magistrate judge explaining what happened.
“I personally reached out to Martin Mayhew and let him know, ‘Hey, this is what’s going on. I want you to hear it from us,'” Magazu said. “I want to say that was a week or two ago, but I’d have to double-check. Martin was obviously disappointed but said, ‘I’ll keep an open mind.’ These clubs are under a different kind of pressure now when it comes to domestic violence because it is so toxic.
“I understand the decision that they made because it’s better, from their perspective, to let things clear over and then evaluate later. But they weren’t caught by surprise. We were collectively in touch with them.”
The Lions said earlier Tuesday they had no comment on Austin’s arrest or release.”
Though it seems easy to point the finger. At the end of the day this man is no unemployed. The athletes are gonna have to make wiser decisions.
Source: ESPN
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