Injured Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was arrested resisting arrest after an early-morning incident where police say it took three officers to subdue him — just as it does on the football field.
Peterson was at a downtown nightclub early Saturday morning when an off-duty Houston police officer working security asked Peterson and a group of people he was with to leave because the club had closed, according to police.
The security guard identified himself as a police officer. The officer left to tell other patrons to leave the club before returning to Peterson’s group again to tell it to leave.
Peterson, according to police, turned around and told the officer that he heard him the first time and pushed him in the shoulder, causing him to stumble. The officer told Peterson he was under arrest and to put his hands behind his back. Peterson began yelling, pulled away and “assumed an aggressive stance,” so another off-duty officer came to help. Peterson continued to struggle with both.
The 27-year-old player finally was handcuffed with the help of a third off-duty officer. Peterson complained of shortness of breath after he was taken to a Houston jail and was examined by Houston Fire Department personnel, who said he was OK.
Peterson, from Palestine, Texas, was released from jail Saturday on a $1,000 bond. The charge is a misdemeanor, and Peterson is due in court on Friday, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Team spokesman Bob Hagan said Saturday the Vikings “are aware of the situation and are gathering more information.”
Peterson ran for 970 yards and 12 touchdowns last season before tearing the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee on Dec. 24. The injury-shortened season broke a streak of four straight seasons with at least 1,200 yards rushing for the former Oklahoma standout. He reportedly has been ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation.
