Browns’ Bess charged in Fla. with officer assault

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MIAMI — Cleveland Browns’ and former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bess was arrested Friday on
charges of assaulting a law enforcement officer at an airport, the latest in a series of personal
problems for the NFL player.
According to a Broward Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Bess was approached by Deputy Thomas O’Brien
inside the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport terminal because he was “acting irrationally,
dancing, singing with his pants repeatedly falling down.”
“I inquired if he was all right and received no response,” O’Brien said in the report, adding later that
Bess “appeared to be looking through me” while they talked.
Bess, 28, then picked up a cup of hot coffee from a counter and squeezed it, “which caused the cup to
break with the liquid going all over my uniform,” the deputy wrote. Bess then took up a “fighting
stance,” and O’Brien said he hit the player on the leg with a baton to no effect.
“Bess proceeded to take off his shirt and once again took up a fighting stance refusing my repeated
orders to get on the ground,” O’Brien said, adding that Bess was finally taken into custody when backup
officers arrived.
Sheriff’s office records show that Bess is charged with simple assault on an officer, resisting arrest
without violence and disorderly conduct. It was not immediately clear whether Bess had a lawyer. Browns
spokesman Zak Gilbert said the team was aware of the arrest and was gathering information.
Bess was released Friday morning on $100 bail. The three charges are all misdemeanors. He did not comment
about the substance of the charges to waiting television news crews.
The Browns signed Bess last year to a three-year, $11.5 million contract after acquiring him from the
Dolphins. This season Bess had career lows with 42 catches for 362 yards.
The arrest comes one day after Bess posted a photo on his Twitter page of a small package containing what
appears to be marijuana. The photo was later deleted. Last month, a photo posted on Bess’ Instagram
account showed him lighting a cigar or marijuana joint next to a photo of late reggae star Bob Marley, a
Rastafarian flag around his shoulders.
On Dec. 19, the Browns placed Bess on the reserve/non-football illness list for what were described as
personal reasons. He missed the final two games of the season.
Bess spent five seasons with the Dolphins. His best year was in 2010, when he caught 79 passes for 820
yards and five touchdowns. The Oakland, Calif. native starred at the University of Hawaii before joining
the Dolphins in 2008 as an undrafted free agent.

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