Safety charged with assault, battery

[joecrisp]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2075361

MIAMI -- Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, described as a "person of interest" in an assault case, turned himself in to Miami-Dade County police on Saturday, ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reported. Taylor has been charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, a felony, and simple battery.


The assault happened Wednesday night and shots were fired, police spokesman Mary Walters said. No one was injured.


The Washington Post reported on its Web site the assault case involved a stolen car. Taylor and a friend were reportedly at the scene of a crime, but it was unclear who the stolen car belonged to and why Taylor was there. A public information officer for the Miami-Dade County Police Department told The Post that shots were fired into the vehicle.


Taylor's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined comment Friday. Taylor and the Redskins didn't immediately return phone messages seeking comment.

Taylor, who wants a new contract, has been working out in Miami despite pleas from coach Joe Gibbs to join the team in voluntary workouts at their home base in suburban Washington. He signed a seven-year, $18 million deal as the No. 5 overall draft pick in the 2004 draft.

The former Miami Hurricanes standout has had a tempestuous start to his NFL career.

He has fired two agents, was fined for skipping one day of the NFL's mandatory rookie symposium and was accused of spitting on a player during a game at Cincinnati, although he was not punished because the league said there was no video evidence.

He was also charged with drunken driving in October, when he was pulled over at 2:45 a.m. after attending a birthday party for receiver Rod Gardner. Those charges were dismissed in January.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.