Florida’s football program has another problem, and this one involves star running back Lamical Perine.
Perine, who rushed for seven touchdowns and more than 800 yards in 2018, is facing a potential battery charge after he allegedly pulled the arm of a tow truck driver, according to The Gainesville Sun’s reporter Robbie Andreau on Thursday.
The alleged incident took place when his mother’s car was in the process of being towed.
Florida running back Lamical Perine could be facing a battery charge after a tow truck driver accused him of pulling his arm as he was attempting to tow Perine’s mother’s car earlier this month.
— Robbie Andreu (@RobbieAndreu) May 16, 2019
A sworn complaint was filed on May 7. In the complaint, the tow truck driver said Perine grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the car.
— Robbie Andreu (@RobbieAndreu) May 16, 2019
State Attorney Bill Cervone is not yet convinced the allegation against Perine rises to the level of a battery charge.
— Robbie Andreu (@RobbieAndreu) May 16, 2019
The negative attention just doesn’t stop with Florida’s football program. They’ve had multiple allegations in the offseason of violence against women, a player transfer after his roommate was accused of sexual misconduct and now they’ve got their best running back potentially facing a battery charge.
Obviously, a battery charge over an alleged altercation with a tow truck driver is nothing compared to violence against women, but it’s still an unwanted distraction. (RELATED: Florida Quarterback Jalon Jones Accused Of Sexual Battery, Is Looking To Transfer)
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It sounds like Perine will likely be just fine, but this isn’t stuff head coach Dan Mullen wants to be dealing with or have in the news cycle.
It’s just not. If there were no other issues with the Gators program, then nobody would really care about this. However, it’s just the latest incident in a long string of allegations.
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Mullen better figure it out, and let’s hope Perine’s season doesn’t get derailed by this allegation. All things considered, allegedly pulling a man’s arm doesn’t sound like a big deal at all, but we have the criminal justice system for a reason.