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Falcons release practice squad player after arrest
The Atlanta Falcons released a member of their practice squad following his weekend arrest. Police arrested Cameron Batson after he got into a physical altercation with an officer during a traffic stop Saturday. Batson made his first appearance in court Monday morning.
ATLANTA - The Atlanta Falcons have released wide receiver Cameron Batson after he was arrested over the weekend for allegedly being involved in an altercation with an Atlanta police officer and fleeing the scene.
At a court hearing Monday morning, a Fulton County judge granted Batson a $95,000 bond and said that he would be allowed to travel with the team for work. However, shortly after 1 p.m. that day the Falcons said that he would not be part of their practice squad.
In a statement to ESPN, a spokesperson for the Atlanta Falcons said that they took "this matter seriously" and were working to gather information from law enforcement.
In a statement to FOX 5, the Falcons wrote:
"The Atlanta Falcons have released wide receiver Cameron Batson from the practice squad. With the release of Batson, the Falcons currently have 15 players on the practice squad."
Early Saturday morning, Atlanta police officers said they arrested Batson, who was recently signed to the Atlanta Falcons, for driving under the influence and leading them on a chase. Around 2 a.m., an officer said he saw Batson speeding and failing to stay in his lane in a pickup truck, so he conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 75 North at the Northside Drive exit.
Cameron Batson (Credit: Fulton County Jail) (Supplied)
During the stop, that officer said he determined Batson was intoxicated and tried to arrest him. The attempt turned into a fight after the officer said he violently resisted, allegedly trying to take the officer's weapon.
The officer fired a shot, but no one was hit. At this point, the officer said Batson managed to re-enter his truck and flee the scene.
After crashing a short distance away near Northside Drive and Echota Drive and exiting his vehicle to flee on foot, multiple officers joined the search. They found the football player hiding in the area and took him into custody.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Cameron Batson (16) looks on during Saturday morning workouts at the Falcons Training Facility on August 06, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Batson was charged with aggravated assault, battery, removal of a weapon from a public official and driving-fleeting to elude a police officer.