DENVER (AP) -- Broncos safety T.J. Ward has
been charged with misdemeanor assault and disturbing the peace for
allegedly throwing a glass mug at a female bartender at a Denver strip
club earlier this month.
Ward, 27, appeared in court Friday to
face the charges stemming from the incident at 2:40 a.m. on May 10 at
PT's All Nude club.
According to court documents, Ward was
seen on video surveillance picking up the mug from the bar and throwing
it at the bartender after being told he couldn't bring a drink into the
club.
A court date was set for June 23.
Police had issued an arrest warrant for
Ward on Thursday. Ward's attorney, Abe Hutt, told The Denver Post that
Ward didn't know he was wanted until he saw a television news report
Thursday night. Hutt said the warrant was dismissed Friday.
Ward's agent, Josh Arnold, issued a
statement to The Associated Press on Friday that said: "The situation
that presented itself within the media yesterday involving T.J. has been
misconstrued. He was never arrested, there will be no booking and the
warrant that was erroneously issued has been canceled. At this point, he
has been issued a simple ticket/citation."
Arnold added that "T.J. would like to
thank all of his supporters and he's looking forwarding to continuing a
productive offseason as he prepares for his first year as a Denver
Bronco."
Ward signed a four-year, $22.5 million
deal with Denver this spring. He is coming off a Pro Bowl season in
Cleveland, where he also earned second-team All-Pro honors last year.
Ward is a major component of Denver's
defensive makeover this offseason following the AFC champions' loss to
the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.
When he signed the 27-year-old Oregon
alum to a contract May 11, general manager John Elway called Ward "a
young, explosive strong safety who is going to bring a lot of energy and
toughness to our secondary."
Ward projects as the Broncos' strong
safety with Rahim Moore returning at free safety. Ward can also line up
as a weak-side linebacker in some of the Broncos' specialty looks with
six and seven defensive backs.
