Two days after Rams defense lineman Aaron Donald was accused of brawling in a nightclub in Pittsburgh, PA, his attorney says the video surveillance of the incident proved his client’s innocence.
On Wednesday, Todd J. Hollis, an attorney representing De’Vincent Spriggs, filed a criminal complaint with the Pittsburgh Police Department alleging that Donald and others had his 26-year-old client at an after-hour client the previous weekend. Club attacked. Hollis also posted a close-up photo at the time showing Spriggs’ puffy face.
On Friday, Donald’s attorney Casey White – who said he did not expect the Pittsburgh authorities to prosecute the NFL star – explained his client’s role in the incident by dissecting the newly released surveillance footage.
Donald’s attorney said Spriggs brandished a bottle that grazed Donald’s head while nameless friends tried to contain the seven-time Pro Bowl selection – before Donald started pulling others off Spriggs.
De’Vincent Spriggs told Pittsburgh police on Wednesday that Los Angeles Rams defender Aaron Donald and others attacked him at a nightclub last weekend and caused multiple injuries.Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP
“When he ducks, someone grabs him from behind to keep him from interacting with this guy, Mr. Spriggs, so he’s holding Aaron back in a way,” White told ESPN. “At this point, other people come to Aaron’s aid and defend him, sort of removing Mr. Spriggs from the area where he is being beaten and fighting; At this point it is a mutual struggle between other people who Aaron doesn’t really know. “
White said he received five testimonies about the incident.
“Aaron is actually running to [Spriggs’] Help and start pulling people off this guy, ”he added. “He’s trying to get these kids off Spriggs; he picks up at least two or three people from Spriggs and at that point someone grabs Aaron and says, ‘This is not a good situation, let’s get out of here.’ “
The incident, according to Spriggs’ attorney, began in the nightclub when his client accidentally met Donald.
However, Donald’s attorney said Spriggs dug his elbow into Donald’s back, which Donald initially ignored and suspected he knew someone.
“He turned around and it’s this Mr. Spriggs … and Aaron says, ‘What’s wrong?’ and Mr. Spriggs starts screaming belligerently, “Should I? Is that what I wanted? ‘ He keeps repeating it, it’s kind of nonsense, but he keeps screaming, ‘Should I?’ It is clear to Aaron and all of the witnesses that [Spriggs] is drunk, ”White explained.
Aaron DonaldAP photo
White said Spriggs was escorted out of the place where Donald met him and a colleague in a side street near the exit of the bar shortly afterwards.
As a result of the fight, Hollis said his client Spriggs took 16 stitches and suffered a broken orbital bone, broken nose, concussion and a sprained or broken arm.
The Rams, who selected Donald with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 draft, are aware of the situation and released a statement saying that the team is “collecting more information”.
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