Former LSU cornerback Tharold Simon arrested the day before ‘Tharold Simon Day’ *UPDATED*
There’s never a good time for an NFL draft prospect to get arrested, but being arrested in your hometown when city officials are about to declare a day named after you, is probably the worst-case scenario.
Welcome to Tharold Simon’s world.
Simon, a former LSU cornerback hoping to get drafted, was arrested in his hometown of Eunice, La., on Thursday and charged with public intimidation, resisting an officer and unnecessary noise violation. Moreover, he allegedly threatened a police officer. Simon denies any wrongdoing in the case and his agent said he has 20 witnesses to corroborate that claim (you can read more on his denial below).
And all of this before city officials were about to declare Friday “Tharold Simon Day.”
According to the police report, police requested Simon move his car, which was blocking a city street. Simon allegedly lashed out at the officer telling him, "I own Eunice," and "I'm gonna buy these projects and you are gonna be mine.” The report also said he backed the car up in an aggressive manner and turned the radio all the way up while doing it.
The charges are fairly minor, but it might be enough for some NFL teams to pass on Simon, who was projected as a mid-round pick.
However, the City of Eunice still stands its hometown hero and Mayor Rusty Moody said the ceremony announcing “Tharold Simon Day” would go on.
"In the United States, our justice system says everyone is innocent until proven guilty," Moody said.
UPDATE: Peter Schaffer, agent to Tharold Simon, disputes claims of any wrongdoing by his client and said he's threatening legal action against the authorities in Eunice, La.
"I have obtained a written statement from almost 20 witnesses," Schaffer told CBSSports.com, "all of whom corroborated Tharold's version of the incident, in which he did absolutely nothing wrong, and nothing illegal. I'm 100 percent confident that there will be no charges filed and Tharold will be completely exonerated. I'm looking into the filing of civil lawsuit against the officer and the Eunice Police Department. Tharold is an outstanding young man, and it's appalling to me that an officer would act this way, particularly at this time."
Simon was a projected mid-round pick prior to his arrest.
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