Cleveland Browns wide receiver Corey Coleman has been named in a police report for an alleged incident that happened on December 31.
According to a Cleveland police report, the incident took place around 2:50 a.m. in the lobby of the Pinnacle Condominiums on West Lakeside Avenue. The report alleges Adam Sapp of Mayfield Heights was in an altercation with a group of four unknown black men while trying to get on the elevator.
Sapp was with Nina Holman and said that after the confrontation "he [was] unclear of what happened next." He remembered being woken up by Holman in the stairwell of the condominium. The report says that Sapp did not know any of the men, but that Holman told him Coleman was one of the men responsible.
Sapp was taken to the hospital with a ruptured eardrum, bruises and scratches on his body. He also told News 5 he couldn't talk about the details. Holman said she wasn't sure what she was allowed to say, and couldn't talk specifics of the incident.
Coleman's attorney, Kevin Spellacy, issued a statement on Thursday:
My client denies participating in this incident. He will fully cooperate with the appropriate authorities and looks forward to clearing his name from what has been alleged.
Sapp's attorney Craig Weintraub told us there is video of the incident in a detective's hands that neither he nor Coleman's attorney has seen just yet. Weintraub said Coleman was present with other people during the incident.
We asked Weintraub if Coleman was directly involved in the fight and he told us he has to see the video first. He said no matter who was involved, somebody needs to pay for the injuries his client has sustained. Here's Weintraub's official statement:
"My office is conducting an investigation into the identities of the people that viciously assaulted my client. This was not a fight but rather was a beating from several people. Some men may have physically beaten my client while others may have encouraged or incited others to attack my client. In addition to our investigation, the Cleveland Police Department is conducting a criminal investigation. We expect them to conduct a fair and thorough investigation. The people that are responsible for my client’s serious injuries will be held criminally and civilly accountable."
Cleveland Police have emphasized, at this point, Coleman is not a suspect in the incident.
News 5 reached out to the Cleveland Browns. Reps said they are aware of the situation and have no further comment.
Read the full incident report below:
December 31 Police Report by KimAnderson on Scribd
