Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been indicted in Texas on charges of “reckless or negligent injury to a child,” and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
FOX 26 in Houston first reported the news.
According ABC 13, Peterson’s attorney Rusty Hardin has confirmed the charges and issued the following statement:
“Adrian Peterson has been informed that he was indicted by a grand jury in Montgomery County, Texas for Injury to a Child. The charged conduct involves using a switch to spank his son. This indictment follows Adrian’s full cooperation with authorities who have been looking into this matter. Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son. He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas. Adrian has never hidden from what happened. He has cooperated fully with authorities and voluntarily testified before the grand jury for several hours. Adrian will address the charges with the same respect and responsiveness he has brought to this inquiry from its beginning. It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury.”
Hardin told ESPN in a text message that Peterson “certainly will” surrender to authorities.
The Houston Chronicle reports Phil Grant, the Montgomery County assistant district attorney, “could not comment on the case until Peterson is arrested.”
The Vikings released a statement Friday afternoon saying the following:
“The Vikings are in the process of gathering information regarding the legal situation involving Adrian Peterson. At this time, we will defer further questions to Adrian’s attorney Rusty Hardin.”
The team also announced that Peterson will be deactivated for Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
According to ESPN, Montgomery County investigators say they received the case earlier this year, adding Peterson has cooperated. NFL.com reports an unidentified Texas police department initially called the City of Houston Police Department with a child endangerment report. It was eventually passed to the county, then the district attorney, then a grand jury, NFL.com says.
According to longtime NFL reporter Ian Rapoport, the investigation has been going on “for some time.”
The investigation has been going on for some time with Adrian Peterson, source says. He testified for a grand jury weeks ago.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 12, 2014
Peterson has spent his entire eight year career with the Vikings. He missed practice on Thursday for a “non-injury-related issue,” but returned on Friday. It is not known if the issue was related to the indictment.
Last October, Peterson’s two-year-old son died after he was allegedly assaulted by a man who was dating the boys mother. Tyrese Ruffin died of severe head injuries in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The Vikings star sent this out to his Twitter followers on Friday.
https://twitter.com/AdrianPeterson/status/510511290289111040
