New England Patriots safety Jabril Peppers pleaded not guilty on Monday following his arrest on assault, strangulation, drug possession and other charges.
Braintree, Mass., police said they were called to a disturbance at a home early Saturday after Peppers allegedly attacked his girlfriend after she received a phone call. He reportedly knocked the woman down, bashed her head against a wall, pushed her down a flight of stairs and strangled her before throwing her out of the house.
He was arrested at the scene without incident and purportedly nodded and said “I know what is going on” after answering the door. He denied putting his hands on her but admitted they were arguing and he was trying to get her to leave, police said.
Inside the home, police found a plastic bag containing a white powder which was later determined to be cocaine, police said.
Peppers, who turned 29 last Friday, was arraigned on Monday for assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation and possession of a Class B substance believed to be cocaine, according to the Associated Press.
During the hearing, Peppers’ attorney, Marc Brofsky, said there was evidence that “sheds real doubt on the allegations.”
Peppers, who agreed to not have contact with the woman, posted $2,500 bail and is scheduled to appear in court again on Nov. 22.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said the organization was aware of the situation and that Peppers would be allowed the at team facilities for the time being. Peppers, who also has a shoulder injury, was inactive for the team’s 15-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. He had been ruled out prior to his arrest.
“We don’t know enough to say he shouldn’t be in the building,” Mayo told sports radio station WEEI on Monday. “I don’t think anyone knows the facts or anything like that. It’s a process.”
Peppers, a team captain for the AFC East team, is in his third season with New England. He previously played for the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. He played college football at Michigan. He signed a 3-year, $24 million contract extension with the Patriots over the summer.