The Allegheny District Attorney’s Office has issued a statement saying they are dropping the assault charges against Joey Porter. Here is their full statement via their Facebook page.
“Today our office was able to view surveillance video showing multiple angles of the events that led to the arrest of Steelers coach Joey Porter. Following that review it is the position of the office that the only charges supported by the video are summary disorderly conduct and summary public drunkenness. Our office will proceed on those charges and barring any additional evidence that is brought forward, we will withdraw the other charges at the appropriate time.”
Porter was originally charged with simple and aggravated assault following Sunday’s win over the Miami Dolphins. The police report described him as an “unruly customer” who had an altercation with police.
Now, they’ll pursue only the disorderly conduct and public drunkenness charges. Porter was initially charged with making terroristic threats, presumably at the police officer, but it was knocked down to that disorderly conduct charge.
The Steelers announced earlier this week they have placed him on leave and issued no timetable for his return. Mike Tomlin did not rule out Porter even coming back for this weekend’s Divisional matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, though that seems unlikely.
Keith Butler will coach the linebackers group in Porter’s absence.
This is a ray of good news for Porter though obviously, still not a good situation for him to be in.
