Everson Griffen -- former USC football standout, now Minnesota Viking -- arrested after alleged assault on LAPD officer
Los Angeles police used a Taser to subdue former USC football standout Everson Griffen after he allegedly assaulted an officer during a traffic stop near campus, department officials said Monday night.
Griffen, now a member of the Minnesota Vikings, was booked on suspicion of felony battery after the incident, which was reported about 4 p.m. Monday at 30th and Hoover streets, said LAPD spokeswoman Karen Rayner.
The incident took place during a routine traffic stop, Rayner said. Officers asked Griffen for his license, which turned out not to be valid, according to sources familiar with the investigation. Griffen then told them "he did not want to go back to jail" and sprinted away from the officers, who caught up with him after a short distance.
When one of the officers tried to subdue Griffen, he allegedly grabbed the officer in the groin area, the source said. Moments later, officers used a Taser to subdue him, the source said.
Griffen was arrested in 2009 in Massachusetts on suspicion of breach of the peace.
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-- Andrew Blankstein
Twitter: @anblanx
Photo: Everson Griffen during practice in August 2007. Credit: Los Angeles Times
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Somebody needs to remind Mr. Griffen that he is an affluent, professional football player now. He has the money to acquire a driver's license. He can live outside the 'hood. He doesn't have to be afraid of the police. And most importantly: the LAPD has unlimited resources with which "to get their man." Sadly, the Vikings will probably now release him and no other team will pick him up figuring he is an idiot.
Posted by: Mark Blocker | January 31, 2011 at 09:49 PM
The thing here is that the eating doughnut police officer caught up with the athlete USC/Minnesota Viking football player. Funny..
Posted by: What the F... | January 31, 2011 at 10:22 PM
what: don't you mean "donut eating " and not "eating doughnut police officer"....you look like an idoit.
Posted by: timmy t | January 31, 2011 at 10:41 PM
unintentional irony strikes again, its spelled 'idiot'
Posted by: direktive4 | January 31, 2011 at 11:00 PM
i need to see the video of him "assaulting" the officer or else it's just another lying Lapd officer.
Posted by: Realist | January 31, 2011 at 11:17 PM
A driver's license, a bail bondsman, and/or a comptent Criminal Defense attorney could have solved all his problems: no need to run from the police.
Posted by: Michael | January 31, 2011 at 11:30 PM
when are people going to learn to respect the law and the law enforcement, what you don't do is grab them by the groin?? omg.
Posted by: kris | January 31, 2011 at 11:38 PM
Another (former) USC football player in jail. Gee, what a surprise.
Posted by: USC Trojans Fan | January 31, 2011 at 11:47 PM
The Vikings should sign up the LAPD cop who caught this Bozo. Griffen has a prior criminal record and should know better by now. I know, I know, poor deprive child...yeah right!
Posted by: amazingbutnotrsurprising | January 31, 2011 at 11:59 PM
at least they didn't kill him, like they did the naked, unarmed guy in Playa Vista last week!!
Posted by: glenn grab | February 01, 2011 at 01:29 AM
people still think cops eat donuts...LOL! When was the last time you saw a cop in a donut shop? Starbucks and Coffee bean dont count...
LOL Caught him WITH 30+ pounds of gear on his waist, dang homes I dont know if I'd throw money down on that dude in the games
Posted by: gabba gabba bue | February 01, 2011 at 03:35 AM
Another knot-headed atha-leet in trouble ? Nothing new.
Posted by: waldobinney | February 01, 2011 at 06:21 AM
Another Quality USC Athlete. Cheat On SC
Posted by: Football Fan 1 | February 01, 2011 at 06:57 AM
unintentional irony strikes again, its spelled 'idiot'
-------
You mean "it's".
Posted by: chops | February 01, 2011 at 07:09 AM
This will probably be his last season...Overworked officer catches Pro Football player in a short footrace...Also, the prison time he'll be serving may interfere with training...
A grab to the groin...that's worth about 2 1/2 million...Everyone knows hows strong football players are...
What's wrong with those Vikings, not having licenses...what a bunch of derelicts...
You can take the Griffin out of the ghetto...
Posted by: TheBigPicture | February 01, 2011 at 07:35 AM
I guess this guy did not "get the memmo" that LAPD IS NOT Impressed with his new found "social statuses". I was not aware that the State of California makes "exceptions" in the law for people when it comes to driving a motor vehicle-obey the law is the simple message he needs to understand! STOP BEING A HOOD RAT- is the other message! Yes he is an "idiot". I think this is type of thing has become do common place amoung many "pro-athletes" it really isn't news. How many times do we have to read about baseball players using steroids, basket ball players diving into stands and assaulting fans, or football quarterbacks sexually assaulting young women? The taser is a wonderful thing when it comes to getting unruly suspects mind right- now we can only hope that the Vikings follow up with suspensions and fines-maybe next time this idiot will obeys the laws (like everyone else!)
Posted by: John LAPD RETIRED now a Texan | February 01, 2011 at 07:36 AM
You can take a man out of the hood, but you can't takethe hood out of a man.
Lay off the rhoids Griffen.
Posted by: Bill Lopez | February 01, 2011 at 07:38 AM
You would have never guessed that would have happened...He looks so intelligent in his photo...
Posted by: TheBigPicture | February 01, 2011 at 07:45 AM
Sigh.....saw this on http://locker21.com/southern-california/ and it makes me sad when we're in the news for stuff like this. That and now we're losing 5-star recruits to Oregon, which would have never happened in the past.
Yuck....
Posted by: Matt | February 01, 2011 at 07:48 AM
Who said he was eating a donut. ha ha Just can't fix stupid. Wonder why he cannot get avalid license like anyone else??? He might play smart on the field, but behind the wheel of a car, he is stupid....not very professional on his part.
Posted by: Sandy Castor | February 01, 2011 at 07:51 AM
His drivers license was either suspended revoked or he let it expire. It is a misdemeanor. By running away like a fool and fighting with the police, now he is looking at a felony charge and a possible prison sentence. I guess he did not learn anything at USC about how to be a responsible adult in life.
Posted by: Ray | February 01, 2011 at 08:08 AM
Should have stayed all four yeas at USC. He needs to grow up and realize he is not on a trail run. Would not be surprised if he gets cut from the Vikings.
Posted by: la joe | February 01, 2011 at 08:12 AM
Keeps getting better: And "its" is a contraction, so it should have an apostrophe and be spelled "it's". (This is better than the comics.)
Posted by: Engprof | February 01, 2011 at 08:16 AM
nothing good ever happens at 30th and hoover.why in the world would he be there?and please do not say because of USC.this should be handled the same as the big Ben situation.SUSPENSION.
Posted by: Nanaberthaa | February 01, 2011 at 08:59 AM
We should of never chewed on those shrooms if I knew he would of triped out like this.
Posted by: MIke | February 01, 2011 at 09:10 AM