The Atlanta Falcons released practice squad receiver Cameron Batson on Monday. He is facing five charges after an arrest following a traffic stop over the weekend, according to reports.
“The Atlanta Falcons have released wide receiver Cameron Batson from the practice squad. With the release of Batson, the Falcons currently have 15 players on the practice squad,” the team said in a statement.
Batson was granted a $95,000 bond at a court hearing on Monday and the judge was willing to allow him to travel with the team, but now that he’s been released by the team it’s a moot point.
Why Did Atlanta Falcons Player Cameron Batson Get Arrested ?
According to police, the former Falcons receiver was pulled over around 2 a.m. on Saturday after police allegedly saw his vehicle speeding on Interstate 75 north at the Northside Drive exit in Atlanta. Atlanta police tried to take Batson into custody, believing he was intoxicated.
Batson then allegedly resisted and “violently fought with the officer.” During the scuffle Batson allegedly tried to take the officer’s weapon. The officer discharged said weapon, though nobody was hit, and Batson got back into his vehicle and fled the scene. Police eventually apprehended Batson and both he and the officer were taken to a hospital for treatment.
List Of Charges Cameron Batson Faces
Batson is facing charges of aggravated assault, battery, aggravated assault against law enforcement officer when engaged on official duty, removal or attempted removal of weapon from public official and driving-fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.
If convicted, Batson will be looking at serious jail time.
Undrafted out of Texas Tech in 2018, Batson played for the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2021, appearing in 27 games with 22 catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns and 16 kick returns for 311 yards.
This is an unfortunate turn of events for Batson, who at 27 is looking at the potential end of his professional football career.
Was Cameron Batson Drunk?
If he was drunk as has been alleged, this shows the chain reaction of how one bad decision can cause several unintended consequences.
If inebriated your decision making and motor skills are negatively impacted. Operating a vehicle in such a state is always a bad idea. Batson is lucky he didn’t kill or injure anyone during the chase.
Once the police try to arrest you, getting physical and/or resisting almost always ends poorly for the suspect. It often goes poorly if a suspect isn’t physical or resisting, so this is already bad.
Did Cameron Batson Try To Take Gun From Cop?
Then for Batson to try and take the officer’s weapon? He is lucky to be alive because situations like that almost always end fatally.
If this was Batson’s first DUI, and he was charged, the punishment he’d face for that would be far less severe than what might be awaiting him if he’s convicted of the assault charges.
According to Georgia law:
The maximum penalties for a first offense DUI include twelve months in jail, a fine of $1,000, completion of 40 hours of community service, clinical evaluation for alcohol and/or substance use dependency and completion of a treatment program, if deemed necessary after evaluation, completion of a risk reduction program (commonly known as DUI School) and suspension of your driver’s license for one full year.
Given that nobody was injured if he had been arrested without incident, he likely wouldn’t face the maximum penalty.
