Antonio Brown released on bond after turning himself in on burglary and battery charges
(CNN) — Former NFL player Antonio Brown posted bond and left jail Friday, hours after surrendering to the Broward County Jail on charges related to an alleged assault at his home.
Brown turned himself in just before 10 p.m. Thursday. He was seen walking with a man who is believed to be his attorney who told CNN affiliate WFOR he advised Brown not to make a statement but that he was innocent and would be acquitted.
Police issued an arrest warrant for Brown in Hollywood, Florida, after an incident at his home in which he and his trainer allegedly assaulted a delivery truck driver, authorities said Wednesday.
The alleged victim told police that Brown and his trainer, Glenn Holt, “battered” him when he was delivering Brown’s household items, which he had stored in California, a complaint said.
Brown faces one count each of burglary with battery, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, and criminal mischief, the Hollywood Police Department said.
In a court proceeding Brown attended Friday morning before his release, Broward County Judge Corey Amanda Cawthon granted Brown a $100,000 bond on the first count, and $5,000 bond on the other charges.
Brown will have to wear an ankle monitor, surrender his passport and weapons, and undergo a mental health evaluation over the next 10 days. The judge also ordered Brown not to have contact with the truck driver.
Brown supposedly refused to pay for service
The driver of the delivery vehicle said he requested the $4,000 payment to deliver the household goods, according to the complaint. Brown refused to pay, and when the driver started to leave, he threw a rock that dented the truck and chipped the paint.
The driver returned to the home after his company told him the former football player was willing to pay the outstanding $4,000, plus $860 for the vehicle damage and the driver’s extra time.
Brown paid the $4,000 but refused to pay the additional amount, and the driver climbed back in the truck to leave, the complaint says.
Brown argued with the driver, climbed into his vehicle and “started to physically grab and pull” him, ripping his shirt and causing multiple scrapes, the complaint says. When the driver refused to hand over the keys, Holt grabbed the keys from the ignition and unlocked the truck, and Brown and several friends jumped in and started removing boxes, the complaint says.
The victim said he suffered injuries, including scratches to his neck, shoulder and forearm, and a cut on the tip of his finger, according to the complaint.
Police arrived and Brown went into his home, shutting the door.
Holt, 35, was arrested on a felony charge of burglary with battery, police Officer Christian Lata told reporters. No attorney was listed for him in online court records. CNN’s attempts to reach a representative for Brown weren’t immediately successful.
Brown without an NFL team after rape accusation
Brown had a tumultuous 2019 that left him out of the NFL.
Long a star with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the seven-time Pro Bowler was traded to Oakland in March. But Oakland released him before the 2019 season started.
The New England Patriots signed him in September, but three days later, one of his former off-season athletic trainers filed a lawsuit accusing him of rape and assault in 2017 and 2018.
Brown’s attorney at the time said the relationship was consensual, noting, “Mr. Brown denies each and every allegation in the lawsuit.” Brown also countersued his accuser.
Brown played one game with the Patriots, and the team released him on September 20, days after the lawsuit was filed.