Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson has been charged with reckless or negligent injury to a child, according to Mark Berman of Fox 26 in Houston.
The charge has also been reported by Jay Glazer of Fox, who adds that Peterson is cooperating and has turned himself into custody.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the charge stems from an incident in which Peterson disciplined his son with a branch.
Arrest of Adrian Peterson (reported by @MarkBermanFox26) stems from the disciplining of a son with a switch, source says. He’s been indicted
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 12, 2014Rapoport adds that the investigation has been going on for a while and that Peterson testified before a grand jury "weeks ago."
According to CBS Minnesota, Peterson admitted in a police report that he did "whoop" one of his children while he was visiting the football player in Texas. The 4-year-old child's mother took her son to the doctor when he returned to Minnesota. From CBS:
The doctor told investigators that the boy had a number of lacerations on his thighs, along with bruise-like marks on his lower back and buttocks and cuts on his hand.
The police report says the doctor described some of the marks as open wounds and termed it “child abuse.” Another examiner agreed, calling the cuts “extensive.”
Peterson told investigators that he saw this as a "normal spanking" and not excessive. CBS Minnesota and Jay Glazer both report that earlier, a grand jury decided not to charge Peterson but that a newly seated grand jury indicted him.
Peterson originally testified Aug 21 in front of grand jury. On Sept 4 they decided not to indict. Now, a week later they decide to indict.
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) September 12, 2014CBS Houston reports that the "whooping" occurred after Peterson's 4-year-old son pushed another one of his sons off of a "motorbike video game." Peterson allegedly sent text messages to the child's mother after hitting him. From CBS Houston:
Peterson also allegedly said via text message to the child’s mother that he “felt bad after the fact when I notice the switch was wrapping around hitting I (sic) thigh” and also acknowledged the injury to the child’s scrotum in a text message, saying, “Got him in nuts once I noticed. But I felt so bad, n I’m all tearing that butt up when needed! I start putting them in timeout. N save the whooping for needed memories!”
In further text messages, Peterson allegedly said, “Never do I go overboard! But all my kids will know, hey daddy has the biggie heart but don’t play no games when it comes to acting right.”
In police reports, the child said that "Daddy Peterson hit me on my face,” and that he was scared that Peterson would punch him in the face. The child also told his mother"that Peterson 'likes belts and switches' and 'has a whooping room.'"
CBS Minnesota has obtained a copy of the police report with photos of the injuries.
According to Nick Wright of CBS Houston, the photos released by the Houston Police Department were taken at least five days after the incident and possibly more than seven days later.
Peterson's attorney Rusty Hardin emailed Deadspin the following statement:
"Adrian Peterson has been informed that he was indicted by a grand jury in Montgomery County, Texas for Injury to a Child. The charged conduct involves using a switch to spank his son. This indictment follows Adrian's full cooperation with authorities who have been looking into this matter. Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son. He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas. Adrian has never hidden from what happened. He has cooperated fully with authorities and voluntarily testified before the grand jury for several hours. Adrian will address the charges with the same respect and responsiveness he has brought to this inquiry from its beginning. It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury."
The Vikings have announced that Peterson will not play this weekend:
Vikings have announced Adrian Peterson will be deactivated this weekend
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) September 12, 2014Another child of Peterson died in 2013 of head injuries. That child did not live with Peterson, and another man was charged in that death.