Report: Charges Against Patriots’ Michael Bennett Dropped In ‘Interest Of Justice’

New England Patriots defensive end Michael Bennett was hit with bizarre charges that were, luckily, dropped.

Houston’s Harris County District Attorney’s Office chief of staff Vivian King explained that prosecutors dropped the charges “in the interest of justice.”

The charges were based on a surveillance video captured by the NFL and its associates, as Michael Bennett and his family made their way toward the field after the game.

The player was indicted in March 2018 by a Harris County grand jury for the felony charge of injury to the Elderly. An elderly security guard in wheelchair claimed that Bennett pushed her arm as he passed through the crowd.

“After looking at all the evidence and applying the law, a crime could not proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Chief of Staff Vivian King said. “There was probably cause to warrant a charge initially, but after a careful review of all the pre-charge and postcharge evidence, we cannot prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“We dismissed this case in the interest of justice,” King added. “After looking at all the evidence, this was the right way to do.”

“Michael and I have always insisted that he was not guilty, and today’s dismissal simply confirms that. whatever happened to the lady on whose behalf the charges were brought – and I have no doubt that she’s a very nice, decent human being – it wasn’t done by Michael,” Bennett’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, said after charges were dropped.

“There were a large group of New England player family members that were authorized by credential to go down on the field after the game; Michael was one of them, but he wasn’t the first one to go through the door where this incident occurred. There was a large group of them rushing through, and whatever happened, it wasn’t done by Michael. He’s just simply not the person that would ever be intentionally or even recklessly causing any kind of harm to a person in a wheelchair as happened here. Whatever did happen, it was never us.

“I always believed that ultimately, when it was reviewed thoroughly, people would conclude that it was always a colossal mistake. And I and Michael want to thank the district attorney’s office and the police for having the courage to do the right thing.”