NFL Reviews New Claims Against Josh Jacobs
Public records reveal three women accused the Packers running back of abuse in incidents dating to 2021.
By Carlos Rousseau ·
The National Football League announced on Saturday that it will examine new claims of physical and verbal abuse against Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs. The league confirmed the review in a statement regarding an open investigation. These new allegations surfaced Friday night when the Hobart/Lawrence Police Department released public records.
The records show three women reported abuse to the department in incidents tracing back to April 2021. The women stepped forward after learning of Jacobs' arrest in May. That arrest stemmed from an alleged domestic violence incident. Jacobs pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of battery and criminal damage to property.
The 129-page report details the May 23 incident. The complainant told police Jacobs acted differently than usual during the alleged battery. She said he attempted to strangle or suffocate her twice. Police noted she described his demeanor as enraged. She told officers she believed she was going to die. After losing consciousness, she reported difficulty walking and blurry vision.
Jacobs' attorneys released a statement Saturday. David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld, and Clarence F. Duchac III said the Brown County District Attorney's office had the allegations for months. They claimed the office conducted an exhaustive investigation. The prosecutors determined only two misdemeanor charges were warranted. The attorneys stated Jacobs has expressed remorse and is honoring the plea agreement terms.
Police released body camera and dash cam footage from the arrest. Jacobs was taken into custody on May 26 after a car he was riding in was pulled over. He told officers he lacked identification. He said he gave his phone to his lawyers because he planned to turn himself in. During a conversation in the police car, Jacobs questioned the fairness of the situation. An officer replied that the charges were referrals and not set in stone.
The police department withheld garage surveillance video from the release. Both Jacobs and the complainant sued the department to block the records. The department said in a letter that it would have released the video with the victim's body pixelated if not for the legal restrictions. Police also interviewed two friends of the complainant who spoke to her by phone after the incident.
The NFL stated it will review these allegations as part of its ongoing investigation. The department's release included reports from the investigation and audio from a 911 call. The call showed yelling in the background but no one spoke to dispatchers before the line disconnected.
