Darrelle Revis Turns Himself In To Police In Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis surrendered to Pittsburgh police on Friday night in connection with a street fight that left two men unconscious last weekend.
Revis arrived at the Pittsburgh Municipal Courts building around 7:20 p.m. He was accompanied by his attorney, Blaine Jones, and family members and did not speak to reporters gathered outside.
Revis was released on bond Friday night, CBS2's Otis Livingston reported. His next court appearance is next Thursday.
The Jets star is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, along with charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and terroristic threats, a misdemeanor. Each felony charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.
WEB EXTRA: Read The Criminal Complaint
The altercation occurred around 2:45 a.m. Sunday in Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood. Dallas Cousins, 22, told police he approached Revis on the street after recognizing him and started taking cellphone video of the All-Pro football player only after Revis, 31, became agitated. Cousins said Revis then pushed him in the chest, grabbed the phone, attempted to delete the video and then tossed the phone in the street.
A police officer reviewed the video, which he said in a criminal complaint showed Revis, a native of nearby Aliquippa, becoming hostile but walking away before asking, "Why are you following me?" several times.
Cousins and his roommate, Zacheriah Jarvis, 21, who claims he tried to help his friend, were both knocked out for about 10 minutes before waking up to talk to police, authorities said. Neither they nor a witness whose statement appears in the criminal complaint saw who threw the punches. Another unidentified man, who might have been a friend of Revis', had walked up on the scene, the complaint said.
The witness, Nathan Watt, told police that just after the altercation, Revis approached him with his fists clenched and said: "I've got more guys coming. Do you want to be next?"
Cousins and Jarvis declined medical treatment at the scene, but later went to a hospital. Cousins said he was diagnosed with a fracture near his eye, and Jarvis had a bruised cheek.
Jones said his client acted in self-defense and was also injured.
"He was not the aggressor that night," he said. "He was 1,000 percent the victim. He tried to retreat. He did everything in his power to try to get this situation to die down, to de-escalate the situation that the other group started. Darrelle was by himself when he was physically assaulted by one of the men. And unfortunately, at what point in time do you say, 'Enough is enough'?"
Revis, who had no previous criminal record, was apparently in the area, known for its nightlife, for at least two hours, police said. Jones said Revis was checking out real estate he's developing.
Some Jets fans say they're disappointed in Revis.
"Money can't get you out of everything," Joey Mitchell told CBS2's Magdalena Doris. "This time, he might do a little bit of time because he's wrong, and when you're wrong, you're wrong."
"Somebody following me around, I might have acted the same way," said fan Ron Kocerha. "But when you're at his level -- money, fame, mentor -- you've got to bite your tongue, pull back on the reigns."
"Come on, man, you're supposed to have a little more self-control than that," another fan said. "You're an athlete. You're supposed to be a role model."
Those who have followed Revis' career say athletes automatically have a target on their backs and need to act accordingly.
"We just never had social media (years ago), never knew about it, so I think guys really have to be taking upon themselves to be smarter," another fan said.
The Jets said in a statement that the team is aware of the incident and has spoken to Revis, but issued no further comment. According to reports, an NFL spokesman said the league will look into the matter.
Revis was a star at the University of Pittsburgh and was drafted No. 14 overall by the Jets in 2007. He quickly established himself as one of the top players at his position, and in franchise history, while also earning the nickname, "Revis Island'' for his penchant for routinely shutting down opposing teams' top receivers.
His second tenure with New York, after stints with Tampa Bay and New England, might be over after two seasons. Revis is scheduled to make $15 million, including a $2 million roster bonus due on March 11, next season, but that would be a lofty salary for an aging player who admittedly had a subpar year that he attributed to age and injuries.
The Jets would still owe him $6 million if they cut him as part of the $39 million in guarantees in the five-year, $70 million deal he signed with New York in 2015. Revis, who could perhaps agree to a pay cut, has also entertained the idea of making a position change to safety.
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