Video Comes Out of NFL Player Malik McDowell Fighting with Police After Being Tased
A newly released security camera video allegedly shows NFL defensive tackle Malik McDowell battling a police officer at a convenience store in Michigan.
The 23-year-old free agent is seen attacking the officer and wrestling for his stun gun in the Feb. 18 incident, according to TMZ, which published the video Tuesday.
The video shows a man identified as McDowell being confronted by a Lathrup Village officer outside of a Marathon gas station and convenience store in the Detroit suburb of Southfield.
The officer told McDowell, who was entering the store, to return to his car and take a seat.
After he did so, the officer asked him to provide his license, registration and insurance. Instead of complying, McDowell said he needed to speak with the officer’s supervisor — a demand he made dozens of times throughout the incident.
The officer explained that McDowell was pulled over because he was driving 60 mph on the snowy road and spun out.
“No, I haven’t,” the NFL player said.
When the officer asked him again for his license, registration and insurance, McDowell said, “I need your insurance.”
While arguing with the officer, McDowell got out of his vehicle and walked into the store, at which point the officer said, “Put your hands behind your back,” and attempted to detain him.
But McDowell, who is 6 feet 6 and 300 pounds, fought off the much smaller officer, dragging him into the store.
As they struggled, the officer warned McDowell that if he continued resisting, he would be tased. The NFL player ended up on the ground but ignored the officer’s orders for him to get on his stomach.
After he kept refusing, the officer fired his taser — but McDowell pulled the prongs out of himself, lunged toward the officer and tried to take him to the ground.
WARNING: The following video contains vulgar language and violence that some viewers may find offensive or disturbing.
The two men tussled, knocking over store displays.
At one point, McDowell apparently had control of the officer’s taser, as the officer could be heard saying, “Drop the gun. Drop the taser.”
A female officer then came onto the scene and rushed over with her gun, followed by three more officers who arrived as backup, and they were able to take McDowell into custody.
He was charged with driving while impaired, driving with a suspended license, obstructing justice and assaulting a police officer, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The outlet reported McDowell also was arrested in April on charges of receiving and concealing a stolen car and in 2017 for disorderly conduct at an Atlanta nightclub.
McDowell was the Seattle Seahawks’ second-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft out of Michigan State but was released by the team last year after he was injured in an ATV accident prior to training camp.
With his history of arrests, it’s unclear if he will ever receive another chance in the NFL.
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