A few days after Dalvin Cook turned himself in to police after being charged with misdemeanor battery, the Florida State running back’s attorney is speaking out.
In an interview with ESPN’s Joe Schad, Ricky Patel, Cook’s attorney, said Monday his client did not hit a woman last month in a bar, as is alleged.
“Dalvin Cook did not strike this woman,” he said. “Players were leaving the scene at the same time. But Dalvin walked away before it got out of hand.”
Patel said witnesses of the alleged incident have offered different versions to police.
Patel said witnesses in the case were intoxicated. He said investigators were presented three versions of what occurred and that his research indicates one alleged witness was actually not present.
"We are not interested in a plea," Patel said. "It's just not right here. It must be dropped or he must be found not guilty. If necessary, we will file civil charges after these false allegations."
Patel thinks “turmoil” surrounding Florida State, notably the dismissal of quarterback De’Andre Johnson for punching a woman in a bar, makes people assume that Cook is guilty.
“There has been so much turmoil at FSU and there is a huge cloud, so [FSU] wants to make sure 100 percent that Dalvin has not done anything inappropriate,” Patel said. “The pressure is so high, the assumption is ‘he did it.’ There is no judge and jury here. It’s just not right.”
Cook is accused of punching a 21-year-old woman on June 23 and has a court date scheduled for July 30. He was indefinitely suspended from the football team on Friday afternoon.
As a true freshman, Cook rushed for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 22 passes for 203 yards in 2014.
For more Florida State news, visit Warchant.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
