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

Comments

[Jack]

Former Trojan standout? Please tell me you're kidding me. Griffen is the poster boy for the current state of the USC program. I.E. Million dollar body but a ten cent head. Is it any wonder that the decline of the USC football program began his last year with the Trojans. This guy has been a jerk since high school and nothing has changed. The Vikings need to cut his over rated behind immediately, because you are not going to be successfull with this type of player in your organization.

[Michael]

As a 30 year Minnesota Vikings fan, maybe the team could drop this 'professional' athlete and sign the cop that caught up to him... the officer obviously has NFL speed!

[mizzmax]

OMG, this is almost like what happened to Malik on the show "The Game", see they don't have to go far to get their story lines!

[GingerSnaps]

Ah, time to hop on a chair, the rats and roaches are scurrying from their holes to spew their jealousy and hatred for USC and the football program. A negative SC story and you head for your keyboards. Everson is the poster boy for the current SC program, not Matt Barkley, really? I believe signing day is tomorrow…. We shall see how SC stacks up against the other Pac 12 schools. My guess – SC will be at or near the top as usual and most of the rest of you not even on the list. How many of your guys have played or are playing in the Super Bowl? How many have even made it to the NFL? Want to compare? Hmmm, thought so. Top tier lawyers? Got ‘em. Top business schools, journalism programs, FILM SCHOOL, got ‘em, got ‘em, got ‘em. What ya got? Bring it.

[gerrrg]

"Griffen was arrested in 2009 in Massachusetts on suspicion of breach of the peace."

False. He was cited, never arrested. What's wrong with the LA Times, that it can't do simple fact-checking?

[LA Dan]

Griffen was at USC visiting his teammates and coaches. I'll bet the USC adminstrators and coaches hyped him as another USC success story.

I'm sure he made a lasting impression.

[The Man]

Hey Realist:

Nobody could care any less what you need to see. This is just another NFL thug being brought back to reality.

[YEP YEP]

NONE OF YOU WERE THERE THAT'S TYPICAL PEOPLE ALWAYS BELIEVING WHAT THEY READ. ALWAYS READY TO DOWN SOMEBODY.

[Truth]

You see, renewing a driver license is a rule. Thugs don't obey rules.

[Genius]

Another Trojan all-star doing what trojans do best! (anyone surprised???)

Don't worry Everson, Heritage Hall will still honor any accolades you may have, just as they do with its Double Murderer & Trojan Great OJ!

[LA Dan]

gerrrg,

Your posting reminds me of a scene in the movie "Stripes"

Army recruiter: "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?"
Bill Murray: "Convicted? No, never convicted"

You're right this is sloppy journalism, pure and simple. It is, however, not surprising from an organization that actually pays TJ Simers to spout drivel.

This one piece of sloppiness ruined his (valid) point that Griffen is no role model. I knew him in high school, and am not surprised.

[Gino]

and the winner is - "You would have never guessed that would have happened...He looks so intelligent in his photo..." Thanks for the hahahahahaha

[El Fweido]

Stupidity abounds at SC. HA! Duh ON!

[troyno]

Another typical SUC recruit who was pampered by Petey and never learned the difference between right and wrong.

[Reggie Bushwhacked]

Don't tase me Bro

[woof-woof]

A lot here doesn't make sense. They had seen his license, so they knew who he was, and he is a Minnesota Viking and would be easy to find, so why would he run? He is a professional football player and he supposedly sprinted away and the police still caught up with him a short distance away? Either he was really wasted or the police officers are covering up something.

[nosemore]

It doesn't say that the cop actually caught the guy in a foot race. It just says the police caught up with him shortly after he ran. It's possible they were in their cars, or possibly a donut truck.

[Chris Berg]

Yeah, he couldn't outrun a dunkin donut filled police officer. That's why the Minnesota Vikings ended up near the bottom of the standings last year. Obama should mandate that every Minnesotan wear a paper bag over their head, tomorrow, how embarassing. See, it wasn't Brett, like I told everyone. A quarterback has to have somebody to throw to that can at least outrun an obese policeman.

[jmetaphor]

WoW!

What a shock, a former USC football player exhibiting criminal behavior and in trouble with the LAPD.

Is this Deja vu or is it a pattern?

I guess gangsta is cool because consistent criminal behavior at USC doesn't seem to have a negative impact on recruiting.

Like Willie Nelson used to sing: "Mommas, please don't let your babies grow up to be Trojans"

[toldyaso]

You can the gangster and player out of the hood but not the hood or being a gangster out out of the player.

[publicsurrvant54]

Everson, you've mad some pretty poor moves. An expired license and this is how you react? The officers probably would have told you to get to the DMV and renew it asap... Now you're in a world of trouble.C'mon, use some of that USC education to make some smart moves in the future. And hanging out in Rollin 30's hood aint one of them.
Well he sounds about as smart as the brainiacs at the LAPD that put a LT HOUSE MOUSE in charge of SWAT. That's right Los Angeles, you're LAPD SWAT has been being dumb down in a major way in the past 5 years. So when a bunch of incompitent SWAT officers come to your neighborhood for a SWAT call out.... get the heck down, because they are not the best of the best any longer! I want C-platoon and patrol responding, because that's where most of the guys that should have gotten into SWAT are. And a couple Seargents and LT's that are not even in METRO should be the leadership of SWAT! Mediocre, that's what LAPD SWAT is nowadays! What a joke!