Everson Griffen won't face felony charge in LAPD crotch-grabbing incident

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office declined to file felony charges Tuesday against former USC football standout Everson Griffen, who allegedly grabbed the crotch of a Los Angeles police officer during a traffic stop near campus.

Prosecutors said they would refer the case to the city attorney's office for possible misdemeanor filing because Griffen, who now plays for the Minnesota Vikings, does not have a criminal record and because of the "absence of injury" to the police officer.

Prosecutors did not reference a 2009 case in Massachusetts in which Griffen was arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace.

Griffen was booked on suspicion of felony battery in the incident reported about 4 p.m. Monday at 30th and Hoover streets, said LAPD spokeswoman Karen Rayner.

The incident took place during a stop for "multiple traffic violations," prosecutors said. Officers asked Griffen for his license, which turned out not to be valid, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

Griffen refused to comply with the commands of officers and refused to be handcuffed or go to jail, prosecutors wrote. At one point Griffen "turned and faced [an] officer in a threatening manner." The officer used a Taser on the decorated defensive lineman and told him to stop resisting.

As Griffen continued resisting, he was jolted a second time, according to the filing declination. As the officer tried to restrain Griffen, he grabbed the officer's crotch.

During the incident, LAPD sources said Griffen sprinted away from the officers, who eventually caught up with him.

RELATED:

Griffen arrested after alleged assault on LAPD officer

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photos: (top) Everson Griffen walks off the field before a game with Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, in 2009. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times. (bottom) Griffen in 2009.

Comments

[RandomBlackGuy]

It must be nice to be famous. If I were driving with an expired license and got into an accident and "refused to be handcuffed or go to jail" (I didn't know you had a choice) then decided to turn and resist arrest it wouldn't be described as "crotch grabbing" it would be resisting arrest and assault of an officer. If I decided to then "sprint away from officers" (ie flee the crime scene) I would have been shot in the back because the officer feared for his life. It probably wouldn't have even made the news. Man... I gotta get rich somehow so all of the good laws can apply to me too! I just wish I was better at football. :(

[Huckster]

"Griffen sprinted away from the officers, who eventually caught up with him." what does that mean, he slowed down to a crawl? eventually means 'sometime, someplace in the future', not 'quickly'. How about enlisting Griffen for PE training for the LAPD as community service?

[Frankie B.]

Hopefully Trutanich doesn't cave to his sc friends and files, driving without a license, resisting and delaying, battery on a police officer and whatever any common person, not affiliated with sc would be charged with.

[FN Cee]

Great News!!! ... and if he goes broke like some of his peers, at least we now know he could apply for work with the TSA folks.

[Steve Rodriguez]

Sure, he won't face felony charges because he's Black and charging him would not be politically correct!

[John]

Female Ofcr's are not equal to male ofcr's.

[Sad]

It must be nice to have friends in high places...

[Marley]

That's right S. Rodriguez, Everson wasn't charged with a felony because he is Black!! Had nothing to do with evidence, case back-logs, defendant history, and other mitigating factors..... We all know Black people, (especially the men), are never charged with felonies, it just wouldn't look good. You moron.

[troyno]

If this had been a homeless guy, he would be dead by now.

[MJ]

Absolutely ridiculous, another example of how SUC has lined the pockets of the LAPD and the DA for years... what a joke.