"Buffalo Bills defensive back Donte Whitner was in a
Cleveland jail today after he was Tasered by off-duty police while trying to
join a "near riot" that broke out in front of a club where he was partying,
Cleveland police said.
Whitner, 23, who is from Cleveland and was a star
player for Ohio State, was inside the popular House of Blues night club in the
heart of downtown Cleveland when a melee broke out at about 3 a.m. outside the
establishment.
A birthday party was under way in the club for Miami Dolphin
Ted Ginn Jr., also from Cleveland, but it's unclear whether Whitner was at the
club for the celebration.
According to Cleveland police, off-duty officers
were trying to quell the fracas when Whitner tried to leave the club to get to
the fight.
"Officers attempting to control the scene denied Whitner access to
the area at which time he attempted to force his way past the officers in an
aggressive manner," Cleveland police said in a statement.
As off duty
officers attempted to restrain Whitner, he began swinging his arms "in a violent
manner," and broke free. He then "took a fighting stance."
An off duty
officer used his Taser to subdue Whitner, "debilitating him enough that officers
were able to place him in handcuffs," police said.
Whitner is accused of
aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest but he had not been formally
charged as of this afternoon. He was being held in Cleveland City
Hall.
Whitner was not being given any special treatment at the jail, Police
Lt. Thomas Stacho said.
"He's in regular City Jail with everyone else,"
Stacho said.
Aggravated disorderly conduct carries a maximum penalty of 180
days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Resisting arrest carries a maximum penalty of
90 days in jail and/or a $750 fine.
The arrest comes just days after fellow
Buffalo Bill Marshawn Lynch was suspended for three games in the coming season
after being found with a weapon in a car in California.
Whitner was
previously arrested in 2006 in the Buffalo area and faced a non-criminal
harassment charge involving his girlfriend. The charge was later
dropped.
Whitner was drafted by the Bills in 2006. He has remained active in
Cleveland by supporting efforts to benefit high school athletes, along with
several other community projects.
The House of Blues is a chain of music
halls and restaurants founded in 1992 by Hard Rock Cafe founder Isaac Tigrett
and his friend and investor, Dan Aykroyd."
Cleveland jail today after he was Tasered by off-duty police while trying to
join a "near riot" that broke out in front of a club where he was partying,
Cleveland police said.
Whitner, 23, who is from Cleveland and was a star
player for Ohio State, was inside the popular House of Blues night club in the
heart of downtown Cleveland when a melee broke out at about 3 a.m. outside the
establishment.
A birthday party was under way in the club for Miami Dolphin
Ted Ginn Jr., also from Cleveland, but it's unclear whether Whitner was at the
club for the celebration.
According to Cleveland police, off-duty officers
were trying to quell the fracas when Whitner tried to leave the club to get to
the fight.
"Officers attempting to control the scene denied Whitner access to
the area at which time he attempted to force his way past the officers in an
aggressive manner," Cleveland police said in a statement.
As off duty
officers attempted to restrain Whitner, he began swinging his arms "in a violent
manner," and broke free. He then "took a fighting stance."
An off duty
officer used his Taser to subdue Whitner, "debilitating him enough that officers
were able to place him in handcuffs," police said.
Whitner is accused of
aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest but he had not been formally
charged as of this afternoon. He was being held in Cleveland City
Hall.
Whitner was not being given any special treatment at the jail, Police
Lt. Thomas Stacho said.
"He's in regular City Jail with everyone else,"
Stacho said.
Aggravated disorderly conduct carries a maximum penalty of 180
days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Resisting arrest carries a maximum penalty of
90 days in jail and/or a $750 fine.
The arrest comes just days after fellow
Buffalo Bill Marshawn Lynch was suspended for three games in the coming season
after being found with a weapon in a car in California.
Whitner was
previously arrested in 2006 in the Buffalo area and faced a non-criminal
harassment charge involving his girlfriend. The charge was later
dropped.
Whitner was drafted by the Bills in 2006. He has remained active in
Cleveland by supporting efforts to benefit high school athletes, along with
several other community projects.
The House of Blues is a chain of music
halls and restaurants founded in 1992 by Hard Rock Cafe founder Isaac Tigrett
and his friend and investor, Dan Aykroyd."
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