An attorney for Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook told ESPN on Monday night that the player did not hit a woman last month and that battery charges are a result of pressure in Tallahassee based on recent high-profile cases in the media.

“Dalvin Cook did not strike this woman,” said Ricky Patel, a Miami-based attorney. “Players were leaving the scene at the same time. But Dalvin walked away before it got out of hand.”

Patel said witnesses in the case were intoxicated. He said investigators were presented three versions of what occurred and that his research indicates one alleged witness was actually not present.

“We are not interested in a plea,” Patel said. “It’s just not right here. It must be dropped or he must be found not guilty. If necessary, we will file civil charges after these false allegations.”

Patel said it has been made clear to him that “there has been so much turmoil at FSU and there is a huge cloud, so [FSU] wants to make sure 100 percent that Dalvin has not done anything inappropriate.”

Patel said he believes recent domestic-violence cases against women involving dismissed FSU quarterback De’Andre Johnson and even former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice are playing a role in charges being filed in this case.

“This is not clean,” Patel said. “There are conflicting statements. The woman and her dad — who was not there — identified Dalvin after being shown social-media pictures of Dalvin and some random people. It was an extremely unfair ‘lineup.’ The pressure is so high, the assumption is ‘he did it.’ There is no judge and jury here. It’s just not right.”

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SOURCE: ESPN
Joe Schad