BRAINTREE – Jabrill Peppers, safety and team captain for the New England Patriots, pleaded not guilty Monday to assault and drug charges after being arrested over the weekend in Braintree, Massachusetts.
Braintree police announced Peppers’ arrest Monday, shortly before he was arraigned in Quincy District Court.
Arrest of Jabrill Peppers
Braintree police said they responded to an altercation between two people around 4 a.m. Saturday
According to court documents, a woman told police that Peppers hit her, choked her, took off her clothes and put her outside. She reported that he had strangled her at least six times and that she had not lost consciousness.
The woman also accused Peppers of pushing her down the stairs. Police said she refused to go to the hospital and was treated for her injuries at home.
Peppers answered the door shirtless, nodded his head and told police, “I know what’s going on,” the documents said. He was arrested without incident.
Court documents say Peppers later told police he repeatedly asked the woman to leave his apartment and denied laying hands on her.
Police said they found a clear plastic bag containing a white powder in Pepper’s wallet, which later tested positive for cocaine.
Jabrill Peppers is under attack
Peppers was charged with assault and battery on an intimate partner, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation and possession of a class B drug.
In court Monday morning, Peppers was asked by the judge if he was aware of the charges and that a not guilty plea had been entered on all counts. He replied, “Yes sir.”
Before Peppers was released on the $2,500 bond he posted Saturday, prosecutors asked him not to have contact with the female victim in the case. Peppers’ attorney Marc Brofsky agreed to the request.
“Judge, notwithstanding the fact that this is the case if there is evidence that I have already seen that casts real doubt on the charges, including video evidence, my client will not object to this condition and will agree to the same .” Brofsky said.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for November 22, although Peppers waived his right to appear in court that day.
Peppers declined comment as he left the courthouse.
“I will repeat what I said in court. We have evidence that completely contradicts the alleged victim’s story. I expect my client to be fully acquitted,” Brofsky told reporters.
CBS Boston
Patriots gather information
The New England Patriots released a brief statement following Peppers’ arrest.
“We are aware of an incident involving Jabrill Peppers over the weekend and police are currently investigating. We will have no further comment at this time,” the team said.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said Monday morning on WEEI that the team is still “gathering information,” but added that Peppers is still on the team.
“I don’t think anyone knows the facts or anything like that. It’s a process,” Mayo said.
A short time later, during his regularly scheduled conference call with the media, Mayo was asked if Peppers would be placed on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list.
“We have informed the NFL and we are still gathering information. I know the team made a statement earlier today,” Mayo said. “I’m not sure how the league and how we’re going to handle that going forward, but we should have some more information in the coming days.”
Mayo was asked if Peppers could return with the team in the future.
“He’s not in the building today, he has a court appearance. As we gather information, he could definitely be in the building. We don’t know enough to say he shouldn’t be in the building,” Mayo said.
Who is Jabrill Peppers?
Peppers, who turned 29 on Friday, did not play in the competition on Sunday team loss to the Miami Dolphins in Foxboro due to a shoulder injury. He had an interception last week against the San Francisco 49ers.
Peppers was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2017. After two seasons in Cleveland, he was traded to the New York Giants. The Patriots signed Peppers as a free agent in 2022.
In July, Peppers signed a three-year extension worth up to $30 million. Mayo also named Peppers team captain this year.
Peppers is one of many players in the NFL who plays with a soft Guardian Cap, intended to prevent head injuries.
The Patriots are now 1-4 on the season after Sunday’s loss at Gillette Stadium.
