Ex-football player bites off officer's fingertip
Former minor-leaguer evaluated after involvement in jail scuffle
 | Slide show |
 | more photos |
PASCO, Wash. - A former minor league football player was evaluated by mental health professionals after police say he forced his way into a secured area at an airport and bit off the fingertip of an officer during a jail scuffle.
Michael Rayfield Hodges, 25, who played for the Tri-Cities Fever of arenafootball2, was being held in the Franklin County jail, where he met with a state psychologist Monday.
His planned appearances in Franklin County Superior Court were canceled Monday, in part because of security concerns.
"In order to have a mental status exam, he couldn't be medicated,'' prosecutor Steve Lowe told the Tri-City Herald, adding that Hodges may have to be medicated to make a court appearance.
Hodges is charged with third-degree assault for hitting a federal security officer Nov. 3 as he forced his way into the secured boarding area of the Tri-Cities Airport.
He bit off the fingertip of a corrections officer and repeatedly punched the face of another officer at the jail Friday as four corrections officers were taking him back to his cell after a visit with his father, according to court documents.
Hodges has not been charged in the jail scuffle.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
LowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM OTHER SPORTS |
 Other sports Section Front |
| Add Other sports headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links