Jonathan Taylor accuser recants domestic violence allegations
The woman who accused former Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Taylor of domestic violence has recanted her statements, according to the Tuscaloosa Police Department.
Taylor was arrested Saturday evening and charged with domestic violence third-degree assault and domestic violence third-degree criminal mischief following an alleged altercation with his 24-year-old girlfriend. The woman told police that she and Taylor got into a verbal argument that turned physical. Police said that the woman had “minor injuries to her neck” and found probable cause to arrest Taylor.
A day after the arrest, Taylor was dismissed from the Alabama football program.
According to police, the woman “contacted investigators” on Monday, March 30, and “stated that she wanted to recant her statements about the previous domestic violence incidents and that Taylor did not harm her.”
After further interviews with the woman on Tuesday, she “maintained she had lied about the previous incidents.” She was then charged with “False Reporting to Law Enforcement,” placed in county jail and released after posting bond.
The charges against Taylor “will be reviewed at a later date,” police said.
Taylor had previously been dismissed from the University of Georgia football team last summer after a domestic violence arrest, but was allowed to enroll at Alabama in January after a season playing at a junior college. After his enrollment, Saban said that Taylor was worthy of a second chance. When Saban announced Taylor’s dismissal on Sunday, he said that “there was a zero tolerance policy” when it came to Taylor.
“Jonathan Taylor has been dismissed from the team and is no longer a part of our program,” Saban said in a statement. “This will still need to go through the legal process, but when he was given an opportunity here, it was under strict guidelines and we made it clear there was a zero tolerance policy.”
According to Al.com, a spokesman for the program said Wednesday morning that he is “unsure” if Taylor could be reinstated to the team.
For more Alabama news, visit TideSports.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
