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2 felony charges dropped against ex-Vike Eller

Former defensive lineman great had sued cops for using excessive force

Image: Eller
Joe Raymond / AP
Vikings great Carl Eller sued the Minneapolis Police Department on Monday, alleging officers violated his civil rights, used excessive force and concealed videotape evidence when they subdued him during an arrest last April.
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updated 1:39 p.m. ET Jan. 7, 2009

MINNEAPOLIS - Two felony charges against Vikings great Carl Eller are being dropped. A judge will rule on two lesser charges stemming from his clash with police last April.

An announcement was made Wednesday in Hennepin County District Court.

The Star Tribune reports that a judge will now decide whether Eller is guilty of one count of fourth-degree assault on a Minneapolis police officer and one count of refusal to submit to a field sobriety test. A decision is to come by Jan. 26.

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The 66-year-old Hall of Fame player was arrested after he allegedly drove through a stop sign and narrowly missed hitting a squad car. Officers followed him home, where they say he became combative. Eller has sued police, contending officers intentionally hid or destroyed video evidence.

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