Floridas Easley mum about attack allegation
GAINESVILLE, Fla. | Police said their attempts to get Florida defensive lineman Dominique Easley's version of what happened early Sunday between him and a former University of Alabama football player have stalled after Easley retained an attorney.
Former Crimson Tide and Cincinnati Bengals player Reggie Myles filed a complaint with the University of Florida Police Department alleging he was attacked by Easley.
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Easley is being represented by Huntley Johnson, a Gainesville lawyer with extensive experience representing UF athletes.
On Tuesday afternoon, when Johnson was asked why Easley had hired an attorney, he said, "probably because he read the (U.S.) Constitution. It's his right."
UPD Maj. Brad Barber said the incident involving Myles happened at 12:05 a.m. on the Gate 2 walkway at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Myles told police the unprovoked tackle came from behind him, leaving him with pain in his hip and a bloody elbow.
Myles turned over a cell phone to police that he said his attacker dropped at the scene. He also asked police to give him copies of any security tapes that might have captured the incident.
Johnson said he did not know where the cell phone was Tuesday.
Barber said he was not aware of any available surveillance videos. The case remained under investigation, he said, so few details would be released, such as the role the dropped cell phone might play in the case.
"We attempted to interview Easley this afternoon, but his attorney, Huntley Johnson, declined the interview," Barber said. "We will continue the investigation with the information we have at this time."
Barber predicted his agency's investigation would be completed by the end of the week and that the findings likely would be turned over to the State Attorney's Office to determine whether any charges would be filed.
"It's very typical in this type of case that any possible charges would be in the form of a sworn complaint that we would forward to the state attorney," Barber said.
Police said Tuesday that they also are contemplating whether to file a sworn complaint with the State Attorney's Office regarding Myles' behavior. Officers said they were trying to determine whether Myles' behavior might have contributed to the incident.