Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter arrested for assault
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter has been arrested and is being held without bond for an assault that allegedly took place at a bar during the Fourth of July weekend.
Hunter, 24, was booked into his hometown jail at the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office on Monday afternoon for a charge listed as malicious intent, stabbing, cutting, wounding.
The Virginia Beach Police Department declined to comment on the arrest, but said a victim was treated at a hospital for unspecified injuries.
Officer James Cason told The Virginian-Pilot that Hunter is charged with felonious assault.
Cason said police broke up a large brawl July 3 at the Sandbar Raw Bar, which is in an oceanfront tourist area, with one person taken to a hospital for treatment.
He declined to give further details. Tennessee traded up six spots to draft the 6-foot-4, 207-pound Hunter out of the University of Tennessee in 2013 with the 34th pick overall.
Hunter played in 14 games as a rookie, catching 18 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns.
He played 12 games before a season-ending injury in 2014 and finished with 28 receptions for 498 yards and three TDs.
"We are aware of the situation and are continuing to gather more facts," the Titans said in a statement.
Hunter's arrest comes less than a year after the NFL updated its policies on a variety of off-the-field issues, including domestic and other types of violence, which now carry a baseline suspension of six games.
ESPN reports that Hunter's arrest could put his status with the Titans in question. The team's coach, Ken Whisenhunt, indicated in May that Hunter's job was already in jeopardy because of issues related to the quality of his peformances.
"At some point, you either get it, or you won't be in this league anymore. That's the natural order of the NFL," Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said in May.