Simple Battery Arrest Warrant Issued For Odell Beckham Jr

Update:

The Cleveland Browns have issued the following statement on Odell Beckam Jr:

Statement regarding Odell Beckham Jr. incident: pic.twitter.com/7cN3jOLCj6

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 16, 2020

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According to Ramon Antonio Vargas of Nola.com, New Orleans police obtained a simple battery arrest warrant Thursday for Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr.

Following the National Championship Game on Monday, Beckham was seen slapping a guard’s buttocks in the LSU locker room.

A police spokesman tells Nola.com that the warrant was issued after video of the incident surfaced.

The stadium security lieutenant was speaking to LSU players about smoking in the locker room at the time of the incident.

Vargas mentions that a law enforcement source tells him that authorities originally sought a warrant for a misdemeanor sexual battery charge against Beckham, but it was declined by a judge.

Court records show that the lieutenant resisted punching Beckham in retaliation and later told investigators he wanted to press charges. The lieutenant considered arresting Beckham but decided against it “due to the jovial atmosphere of the locker room.”

Before that, Beckham was seen handing out money to LSU players following their win over Clemson.

LSU later confirmed that the money was real:

“We are aware of the situation regarding Odell Beckham Jr. interacting with LSU student-athletes and others unaffiliated with the team following the championship game Monday night.

“Initial information suggested bills that were exchanged were novelty bills. Information and footage reviewed since shows apparent cash may have also been given to LSU student-athletes. We were in contact with the NCAA and the SEC immediately upon learning of this situation in which some of our student-athletes may have been placed in a compromising position. We are working with our student-athletes, the NCAA and the SEC in order to rectify the situation.”

Beckham, 27, was taken with the No. 12 overall pick by the Giants back in 2014. He was set to make a base salary of $8,459,000 for the 2018 season when he agreed to a new five-year extension worth up to $95 million and includes $65 million in total guarantees.

The Giants traded Beckham to the Browns this offseason for the No. 17 overall pick, their second third-round pick and S Jabrill Peppers.

Beckham stands to make base salaries of $16.75 million and $14 million over the next two years.

In 2019, Beckham appeared in 16 games for the Browns and caught 75 passes for 1,035 yards receiving and four touchdowns.