Peterson lawyer: Police were aggressors
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson wasn't the aggressor and was hit multiple times by arresting officers when he was arrested last weekend, attorney Rusty Hardin told NFL Network.
A police spokesperson said Sunday that Peterson pushed an off-duty police officer working security. He was arrested for resisting arrest, fined $1,000 and stayed in jail for several hours. Peterson's father, Nelson Peterson, said Monday that police initiated the confrontation and his son left the Bayou Club in Houston with a black eye.
Hardin said in a phone interview with NFL Network that reports that Peterson resisted arrest or pushed police were false.
"He wasn't refusing to leave; he was leaving when he was placed under arrest," Hardin said. "He did have some words with a police officer, but not anything that justifies an arrest, and he certainly never did anything physically toward them."
Peterson's injuries aren't evident in the mug shot released on the court web site, and is shown smiling for the camera. Hardin maintained the position he initially took when releasing a statement after the incident that Peterson was the victim and has the bumps and bruises about his face to prove it.
"He, in fact, was struck at least twice in the face for absolutely no legitimate reason, and when all the evidence is impartially reviewed, it will clearly show Adrian was the victim, not the aggressor," Hardin said.
Peterson proclaimed his own innocence Sunday via Twitter. First, he quoted Winston Churchill: "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. WC."
Shortly after that, he tweeted: "Thank you for waiting for the facts. Truth will surface."
Peterson is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery and hopes to be ready to play in the season opener in September.
