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Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff Writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers pleaded not guilty Monday after he was arrested Saturday. He will face charges that include strangulation and drug possession, according to police in Braintree, Massachusetts.
Police announced Peppers’ arrest Monday, saying they responded to a disturbance at a residential address early Saturday morning when a caller indicated there was an altercation between two people.
Police said Peppers, who turned 29 on Friday, will be charged with “assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation, and possession of a Class B substance believed to be cocaine.”
According to Braintree police, Peppers shoved a woman to the ground, shoved her head into a wall and put his hands around her neck to strangle her. Police said she was treated at home for injuries to her face and knees.
Peppers pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Quincy (Massachusetts) District Court on Monday morning. He posted $2,500 bail and was ordered to stay away from the woman.
Peppers’ attorney, Marc Brofsky, told the court that evidence in the case “sheds real doubt on the allegations, including videotaped evidence.” He said Peppers agreed not to have contact with the woman.
The next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 22, but Peppers was allowed to waive his appearance.
In a statement, the Patriots said they were “aware of an incident involving Jabrill Peppers over the weekend in which the police are currently investigating.” The NFL said it was “aware of the matter” and would have no further comment.
Peppers, a team captain, didn’t play in the Patriots’ 15-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. He had been limited in practice last week because of a shoulder injury, and the team officially ruled him out Saturday.
“He called me that morning. I knew what was going on,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo told sports radio WEEI on Monday. “We’ve informed the NFL what was going on and we’re still gathering information. … I don’t think anyone knows the facts or anything like that. It’s a process.”
Mayo told reporters that he informed the team about the situation and that Peppers will be allowed at the team’s facilities for now.
“We don’t know enough to say he shouldn’t be in the building,” Mayo said.
Peppers signed a three-year, $24 million extension in July,
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
