KNOXVILLE – A judge on Tuesday dismissed a misdemeanor resisting arrest charge against Tennessee freshman wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers, who was one of two players arrested after a massive offseason bar brawl.
Prosecutors also agreed Tuesday to dismiss a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct if the Calhoun, Ga., native performs 16 hours of community service and pays court costs. A hearing on the charge has been moved to Oct. 27.
“I would like to make it clear that I did not participate in any kind of fighting and did not assault any police officer or any other person during the events of July 9, 2010,” Rogers said in a statement released by defense attorney, Don Bosch. “I was present in Bar Knoxville at the time a fight broke out among other people, but I was not fighting or drinking.”
Several Tennessee players were present when the brawl broke out. A bar patron suffered minor injuries and on off-duty police officer trying to break up the fight suffered a severe head injury. No one has been charged with his assault.
Rogers, 19, said he was attempting to leave the bar when a bouncer sprayed pepper spray in his eyes. He said he was grabbed from behind, but did not realize he was being grabbed by a police officer until he was handcuffed because his eyes were burning from the spray.