D'Qwell Jackson accused of assault

ESPN logo
Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Police in Washington, D.C., have arrested Indianapolis Colts linebacker D'Qwell Jackson and charged him with assault after an argument over a parking space.

A police report shows Jackson was arrested on the misdemeanor charge Tuesday. The report says a driver told police that Jackson punched him in the face and the back of the head during a dispute over a parking space.

A police spokesperson told ESPN.com that Jackson was arrested about 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday at the 1900 block of 12 Street NW in Washington after officers determined that Jackson assaulted another man. He was taken to the station's third district, where he was released later that night. He was given a notice to appear in court at a later date.

WJLA-TV in Washington reports that the driver, who is a pizza deliveryman, told Jackson he would be in the spot momentarily, but the Colts linebacker got angry, told him to get out of the space and allegedly assaulted him.

Jackson played for the University of Maryland before being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. He played for the team through the 2013 season. The Colts signed him as a free agent in March 2014.

"The Indianapolis Colts have been made aware that D'Qwell Jackson was charged yesterday in DC with a count of simple assault. When the Club learns more of the surrounding facts, it will make an appropriate statement," the team said in a statement.

Jackson is the fifth member of the Colts to be arrested since March 2014, when owner Jim Irsay was arrested for impaired driving. Irsay reached a plea deal on a lesser charge and was suspended by the NFL for the first six games of the 2014 season.

Backup linebacker Josh McNary was charged with rape last month and was placed on the commissioner's exempt list pending the outcome of his case. Linebacker Andrew Jackson also was arrested last month, on a DUI charge, the second time he has been charged with such an offense. He pleaded guilty later that day.

Wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers was arrested on a DUI charge in September and subsequently released by the team.

D'Qwell Jackson signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Colts last year after he was released by the Browns. He led the Colts with 140 tackles in his first season with the team and contributed a career-high four sacks. He also was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time.

He intercepted a Tom Brady pass in the AFC Championship Game, which reportedly helped lead to the NFL's investigation of the New England Patriots for allegedly using underinflated balls in the first half of the game. Newsday reported that Jackson gave the ball to a member of the Colts' equipment staff, who noticed it was not fully inflated and informed Colts coach Chuck Pagano.

ESPN.com's Mike Wells and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related Video