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Reports: Intoxicated Peterson Arrested After Pushing Off-Duty Cop
According to the Houston Police Department, Adrian Peterson got into an argument with and pushed an officer working an extra job at a local nightclub just after the club closed at 2 a.m. Peterson was arrested and the offense listed was "resisting arrest/search unclassified."

Under Texas law, this is considered a Class A misdemeanor. No immediate court date was available for Peterson. The charges are handled by the District Attorney's office.

He was released from the city jail hours later on $1,000 bond.

So what happened? There are various versions.

According to Houston Police Department spokesman Kese Smith, the officer approached Peterson, who was talking with a group of people next to the bar, as he began clearing the club. "The officer informed Peterson and the group that the bar was closed and asked them to walk toward the nearest exit,” Smith told the Houston Chronicle.

The officer moved on to inform other patrons of the club’s closing and then returned to Peterson’s group, which was still talking at the bar, Smith said. The officer again asked Peterson’s group to leave and turned away.

“That’s when Peterson told the officer that the group had heard him the first time and pushed the officer in the shoulder, causing him to stumble,” Smith said.

The officer responded by telling Peterson he was under arrest and asking him to turn around and place his hands behind his back, Smith said. Peterson began yelling at the officer, Smith said. “As the officer attempted to place Peterson in handcuffs, Peterson pulled away from the officer and assumed an aggressive stance,” Smith said.

A second officer, an HPD sergeant also working an approved extra job at the club, tried to help with the arrest, Smith said.

Peterson struggled with both, drawing a third officer into the mix, Smith said.

Once handcuffed, Peterson was taken to the city jail, where he complained of shortness of breath, Smith said. Houston Fire Department medical personnel who examined Peterson said he was fine, Smith said.

It should be noted that Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio got a slightly different version of the story.

Citing an unnamed source, Florio reported that a group of officers came into the club at closing time and began telling customers they had to leave.

Peterson initially wanted to get some water, was told by an officer he had to leave and exchanged some words with the cop. Peterson, per Florio's source, walked to the exit with one of the bouncers from the club.

At that point, it's "believed" an officer jumped on Peterson's back and tried to tackle him. Other officers then got involved and Peterson was arrested.

Whatever the case, TMZ.com reports that Peterson was heavily intoxicated at the time of his arrest.

Daniel Maher, general manager of Live at Bayou Place, tells TMZ that Peterson has been to the club before, but he has never known him to drink much. Last night, however, Maher said Peterson was very drunk and was a difficult customer all night.

As TMZ reported it, "Maher says Peterson was throwing his ego around and making people mad, so they put him in the VIP area. Maher says when the club was closing, he rushed over to the bar to try and order one last drink and when he wouldn't Maher says Peterson 'tried to intimidate the bartender' into selling it to him.

According to Maher, that's when he intervened, but Peterson continued to be "unreasonable."

That's when Maher says the off-duty cop intervened.

Maher says during his confrontation with the officer, Peterson assumed a fight stance and looked "like he meant business." Maher says, "He looked really scary and I thought he was gonna attack the cops."

Maher says that once the officers subdued Peterson, the NFL star apologized for his behavior and told cops he doesn't usually drink.

Maher's version sounds a bit closer to the official police report than Florio's account.

Peterson is a native of Palestine, Texas, but spends his offseasons in the Houston area.

Peterson has spent this offseason rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament that he suffered in his left knee on Dec. 24 in Washington. He hopes to return for the Sept. 9 regular-season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Metrodome.

"We are aware of the situation and are gathering more information," Bob Hagan, director of public relations for the Vikings, said in a statement. "At this point, we will have no further comment."

According to 1500ESPN.com, head coach Leslie Frazier returned home Friday night after spending time this week with current and former NFL coaches visiting U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf as part of a USO tour. He is aware of the situation with Peterson. ...

Stay tuned. Watch for more on his story as developments warrant in the News & Views section of the site. I'll have more in-depth coverage here in the Headline News section as needed, most likely depending on the impact the arrest has on the upcoming season.