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Attorney says FSU's Cook didn't hit woman, threatens civil suit
An attorney for suspended Florida State running back Dalvin Cook went on the offensive Monday night, professing his client’s innocence of battery charges to ESPN, saying that Cook has no interest in a plea deal, and even threatening to file civil charges against "false allegations.”
Cook, 21, was charged last Friday with battery and accused of punching a woman in the face multiple times at a Tallahassee bar in June. The team suspended the sophomore later that day after he turned himself into police.
On Monday, Miami-based attorney Ricky Patel was steadfast in his defense of Cook in speaking with ESPN’s Joe Schad.
"Dalvin Cook did not strike this woman," Patel reportedly said. "Players were leaving the scene at the same time. But Dalvin walked away before it got out of hand."
Among claims by Patel were that police relied on intoxicated witnesses to make their initial case, that witnesses actually presented three versions of events to police, and that one of those witnesses was not actually present at the time of the incident.
He also told Schad that he believes the dismissal of Seminoles quarterback De’Andre Johnson earlier this month after video surfaced showing Johnson punching a woman in the face played a role in Tallahassee police charging Cook. Patel even said the Ray Rice incident from 2014 had an impact in the police’s decision.
"This is not clean," Patel said. "There are conflicting statements. The woman and her dad -- who was not there -- identified Dalvin after being shown social-media pictures of Dalvin and some random people. It was an extremely unfair 'lineup.' The pressure is so high the assumption is 'he did it.' There is no judge and jury here. It's just not right."
Patel added that a plea was out of the question.
"We are not interested in a plea,” he said. "It's just not right here. It must be dropped or he must be found not guilty. If necessary, we will file civil charges after these false allegations."
He even added that the accuser actually was an aggressor, hitting Seminoles receiver Travis Rudolph.
"The bottom line is this does not relate to Dalvin," Patel said. "There is no video. And regardless of if there is a video, there is no room for that type of behavior. But Dalvin walked away. He is not an individual that would be involved in attacking a woman."
On Sunday, it was revealed that Cook had two legal run-ins in 2014, shortly after arriving in Tallahassee, including receiving two citations for mistreatment of three puppies -- a case which Patel fears could taint a potential jury if the battery case goes to trial.
Cook ran for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman with the Seminoles last season.
