Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Ravens rookie running back arrested on misdemeanor charges

Baltimore Ravens rookie running back Lorenzo Taliaferro was arrested during the weekend in Williamsburg, Va. and charged with destruction of property and public intoxication, according to Williamsburg Police Maj. Greg Riley.

Both charges are misdemeanors.

According to the police report, Taliaferro was part of a group causing commotion outside of a restaurant around 1:15 Saturday morning.

The group eventually got into a taxi cab, but the cab stopped shortly after beginning to drive off. The cab driver then got out of the car, signaled to a nearby police officer and showed the officer that one of his windows had been broken by a member of the group.

He identified that individual as Taliaferro.

Taliaferro left the scene, according to the report, but he was located about a block away and arrested.
Once in custody, Taliaferro admitted to having "consumed a good amount of drinks" prior to the incident
with the cab.

The arresting officer had also detected a strong odor of alcohol when he approached Taliaferro and said in the report that Taliaferro was unsteady on his feet, had bloodshot eyes and spoke with a slur.
Taliaferro told the officer he broke the cab window by accident, but the driver said the window broke as a result of Taliaferro pulling on it with both hands as he attempted to drive away.

Taliaferro is scheduled to appear in court June 3.

Taliaferro was selected by the Ravens in the fourth round of the NFL draft earlier this month.

He is the fourth Raven player to be arrested this offseason, joining fellow running back Ray Rice, wide receiver Deonte Thompson and offensive lineman Jah Reid.