Ezekiel Elliott’s assault case that recently went public is now officially under investigation. The woman accusing the former Buckeye and current Cowboy RB of assaulting her has now taken the case to the prosecutor’s office in Columbus.
Columbus police referred the case to the city attorney’s office because of the conflicting statements given by Elliott and the victim.
“At this time, there is an open investigation,” said Robert Tobias, director of Columbus’ prosecution resource unit said in an email to ESPN.com. “We are attempting to gather as much evidence as possible.”
Elliott is expected to be on the field with the Cowboys in Oxnard, California on Saturday as the team begins training camp. There is no timetable for the completion of the investigation. Elliott has not been charged with any crime, nor arrested.
The woman accused Elliott of hitting her “several times” and left “bruises on her arms” over a five day period according to the police report. Elliot has denied assaulting her and never touched her in a “harmful manner” and that she suffered the injuries in a bar fight.
“The reported allegations and Internet postings regarding our son are completely false,” Elliot’s father Stacy Elliott said. “Ezekiel has done nothing wrong. The police have investigated this matter and eyewitnesses have verified the lack of any wrongdoing. The actual evidence in this matter clearly indicates what the real motivation was behind the police being called. We are confident that when the truth comes to light it will reveal the falsity of these claims. Ezekiel has been fully cooperative with the police and will continue to do so — along with cooperating with the NFL — moving forward.”
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett didn’t talk much about the incident this week.
“I don’t want to comment too much on that,” Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said Tuesday from a coaches clinic at AT&T Stadium. “We believe we know all about Ezekiel Elliott and what he’s all about as a person, and I think it would be premature to make any comment beyond that.”
The NFL is also reviewing the case under its personal conduct policy, and Elliott would not need to be charged to be punished by the league.
[ESPN]
