National Football League

Incognito claims surface in cop report

Published Nov. 7, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Miami Dolphins lineman Richie Incognito, who's accused of bullying teammate Jonathan Martin with physically and verbally abusive behavior, sexually harassed a volunteer at a golf tournament, according to allegations in a police report filed last year.

Incognito, partcipating in the "Fins Weekend Golf Tournament" on May 18, 2012 at the Turnberry Resort and Hotel in Aventura, Fla., allegedly had been drinking and "used his golf club to touch her by rubbing it up against her vagina, then up her stomach then to her chest," according to the report. "He then used the club to knock a pair of sunglasses off the top of her head. After that, he proceeded to lean up against her buttocks with his private parts as if dancing, saying 'Let it rain, Let it Rain!' He finally finished his inappropriate behavior by emptying bottled water in her face."

The volunteer said several people including an event sponsor witnessed it but did nothing, so she told her supervisor, who told team security, who said they would handle it. But she told police all she got was an apology from former Dolphin Nat Moore, so she called them because she wanted one from Incognito.

"She felt like he didn't care and thought the whole incident was in fun and games," the report says. "Other people apologized for him, but not him."

The volunteer told Local10 she couldn't discuss the report because she signed a confidentiality agreement. The Dolphins refused to comment.

Incognito's wild behavior has been well documented, with reports of nightclub fights and of course this video:

Incognito was suspended by the Dolphins on Sunday night for conduct detrimental to the team amid accusations he bullied and threatened Martin, who has since left the team.

The situation has set off a firestorm across the country as fans, team executives, coaches and players have taken sides in the debate over the culture in an NFL locker room.

Incognito has had a history of troubling incidents dating to college. Similar issues followed him into the NFL, as Incognito got into fights with his teammates in St. Louis, which drafted him in 2005, on at least two occasions.

A confrontation with offensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was the breaking point for the Rams, who released Incognito in December 2009.

The 30-year-old Incognito was kicked off his team at Nebraska and has long had a reputation as one of the NFL's dirtiest players. But he has been praised by teammates this week.

''Does he like to give guys a hard time? Yes. Does he like to pester guys and have fun? Yes,'' Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill said. ''But he brought a lot of laughter to this locker room, he brought a lot of cohesiveness to this locker room and he was the best teammate that I could ask for.''

Incognito, speaking publicly for the first time since his suspension Sunday, was interviewed briefly this week by a reporter for WSVN-TV.

"I'm just trying to weather the storm right now," Incognito said before getting into his car. "This will pass."

Incognito's harassment of Martin included text messages that were racist and threatening, two people familiar with the situation have said. The 6-foot-5, 312-pound Martin, a second-year pro, is biracial. Incognito, a guard in his ninth NFL season, is white.

The case leaves Incognito's career in doubt, and an associate professor at the University of Miami School of Law said he could face criminal charges.

"This can be pursued as an extortion case," Tamara Lave said. "It could also be pursued as making some kind of threat against the other player's life. ... This particular cultural moment is one in which people are very upset about bullying and hazing. ... I think that prosecutors may think it's important for them to do something. And the fact that you have a 300-pound man who feels so threatened and uncomfortable that he leaves, that's an indication of how serious it was."

No criminal investigation has been disclosed. Meanwhile, the NFL must decide whether the Dolphins failed to enforce the guidelines for workplace conduct included in the league's player policy manual.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League