The photographer who accused Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Laci Rice of assaulting him at a downtown Dallas nightclub earlier this month has been told he will not press charges. dallas morning news.
Dallas Police Department spokeswoman Kristin Lowman confirmed Tuesday that the “reporter” signed a non-prosecution affidavit, meaning he will not participate in the criminal proceeding. Lowman said the investigation is ongoing.
Around 2:30 a.m. on May 6, officers were dispatched to the Lit Lounge & Few Nightclub in the 600 block of North Harwood Street near Federal Street for a report of an assault.
Crime report obtained by police news The photographer said he was at an after-hours party at the nightclub around 1:30 a.m., but left after a short time. At around 1:55 a.m., the “suspect” messaged the photographer on Instagram, asking him to return to the nightclub under the premise that he was being hired to take the photo, according to the report.
According to the report, the photographer spotted the suspect and was told by the suspect to look at his Instagram messages on his cell phone. The report does not elaborate on the content of the messages.
As the photographer looked down at the suspect’s cell phone, the suspect punched him in the left side of his face, according to the report.
A police spokesperson said the photographer was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police officials said: news There was visible swelling on one side of the man’s face.
This was revealed by law enforcement officials. news Rice, a former Richland High School and SMU star, is said to be a suspect. Police redacted the suspect’s name in the crime report, but his age, height, weight and other descriptions match Rice.
Within hours of the allegations first surfacing, questions were raised about the report on social media. Two people with ties to Rice and knowledge of the incident spoke out. news There was an altercation inside the club, but there was no physical contact.
Mr. Rice’s lawyer, state Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas), declined comment when reached by phone Tuesday.
Rice is also suspected of being one of two drivers involved in a multi-vehicle crash in Dallas on March 30 that injured at least seven people.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, in the 6600 block of North Central Expressway between Lovers Lane and University Boulevard, seconds before the incident, Rice was speeding 119 mph when SMU football player Theodore “Teddy” Knox was driving 116 mph.
Rice and four other men were seen on video leaving the scene after the crash. Police said the men did not stop to check if anyone needed medical treatment or to provide information.
Rice and Knox are each charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision with serious injury, and six counts of collision with injury. Both men turned themselves in to authorities less than two weeks after the accident and posted bail shortly after.
