Minnesota Vikings’ Chris Cook arrested for wielding handgun during altercation – NFL news
Defensive back for the Minnesota Vikings Chris Cook was arrested on charges of brandishing a handgun in Virginia on Saturday, 12 March, 2011.
Area police said that the 24-year-old defensive back pointed a gun during an argument with a neighbour on the Halifax Avenue at around 5:30 PM Eastern Time. A local newspaper later caught up with Cook and asked him about what happened. Cook said that he
was just issued a license for a concealed weapon but he said that he did not withdraw a weapon during the altercation.
“He went downtown and told [the police] I pointed the gun at him,” Cook said.
Cook confirmed that he was arrested but said that he did not get into a fight with his neighbour, but instead was just a verbal confrontation. “I wasn’t in any fight or nothing,” he said. “It was just an argument.”
Cook says that he was riding his motorcycle in his neighbourhood when a man who lives two houses away from him started yelling at him.
“You’re not going to scream at me like I’m your child so I screamed back at him,” Cook said. “He thought that I called the police on his brother for some reason. Why would I do that?”
Cook maintained that the fight did not turn physical and that he did not point a gun at the accuser. He also said that he did not know if he will be charged but he complied with the police and accompanied them to the police station. He did not serve any
jail time.
“It’s just crazy,” Cook said. “I just have to deal with it the best way I can. I wish it didn’t happen. I wish I would have never got in an argument, but that’s what happened.”
Whether the National Football League (NFL) will impose any penalty upon Cook for violating their personal conduct policy is unclear. Usually, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reviews these cases but a current lockout prohibits teams and the League from having
any sort of contact with the players.
A league spokesman who wished to remain anonymous said that although Cook will not be punished by the League during the lockout, his case will most likely be reviewed when, and if, a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.
Cook has just finished his rookie season with the Vikes. After being selected 34th overall in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of the University of Virginia, Cook started in five of the six games that he played in. He accumulated 21
tackles, only five of which were assisted and also defended two passes.
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