Attorney Rusty Hardin says Peterson is accused of using a branch, or switch, to spank his 4-year-old son. He says Peterson has cooperated with authorities and “used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son.” Hardin says Peterson regrets the incident but never intended to harm the boy.
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Peterson turned himself in to police in Montgomery County, Texas, about 2 a.m. ET Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported . Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported that Peterson was later released on $21,000 bond. Peterson reportedly practiced in Minnesota on Friday.
The grand jury decided not to indict Peterson a week ago but since has decided to do so, according to Glazer .
A police report obtained by Houston radio station KILT says Peterson admitted he did “whoop” one of his children last May while the child, who reportedly lives in Minnesota, was visiting the running back. Peterson’s son had pushed another one of his kids off a video game to prompt the punishment, according to the report.
Peterson told police he knew the injuries would be discovered when the boy returned home for a scheduled doctor’s appointment, according to the KILT report, and that he had “nothing to hide.”
Peterson also allegedly said via text message to the child’s mother that he “felt bad after the fact when I notice the switch was wrapping around hitting I (sic) thigh” and also acknowledged the injury to the child’s scrotum in a text message, saying, “Got him in nuts once I noticed. But I felt so bad, n I’m all tearing that butt up when needed! I start putting them in timeout. N save the whooping for needed memories!”
In further text messages, Peterson allegedly said, “Never do I go overboard! But all my kids will know, hey daddy has the biggie heart but don’t play no games when it comes to acting right.”
Harden released a statement later Friday.
Peterson dealt with the death of his 2-year-old son during the 2013 season, which happened after abuse at the hands of Joseph Patterson.
Contributing: Tadd Haislop, Tom Gatto, The Associated Press
