Miami Dolphins defensive end Derrick Shelby was arrested last weekend in what many wrote off as just another case of an NFL player acting like, well - an NFL player.
But in the wake of the incident, Shelby has reportedly confided in those close to him that the initial accusation was false and that there were "racial undertones" to the entire scene.
According to Andrew Abramson of The Palm Beach Post, the story allegedly goes that Shelby, who is black, was drunk, touched a Caucasian woman without her consent at Cyn Nightclub in Ft. Lauderdale, and was subsequently asked to leave. Shelby refused.
Police officer Zachary Baro intervened and Shelby alleges "aggressively forced" him outside of the club. Shelby began photographing and recording the officer with his phone because he wanted evidence that Baro was mistreating him. This, according to Shelby, enraged Baro.
Baro, who has been involved in a cellphone related case before, reported that Shelby grabbed his arm and he grabbed Shelby's head and shoulder and they both fell to the ground.
Shelby was subsequently Tased three times and taken to the hospital before eventually being booked.
Shelby was arrested on two misdemeanor charges - trespassing and resisting arrest without violence. He is not facing any charges relating to touching the woman.
The resisting arrest without violence charge is another particularly interesting element to the story, considering the mug shot of Shelby that appeared along with the initial report.
Shelby - battered and bruised and sporting a severely busted lip - looks in the photo as if he's just gone 12 rounds with an in-his-prime Mike Tyson.
Baro's description of the fall is supposed to explain Shelby's facial lacerations.
Shelby's attorney, Daniel Rosenberg, is alleging that the police used excessive force.
"When you see charges of resisting without violence and you see photos like that there's a lot of conflicting information," Rosenberg said.
Shelby, who has no prior arrests, is currently suspended indefinitely from the team and is not talking to the media.
