NFL star Michael Bennett appears in court on charges he injured an elderly woman at the Super Bowl

NFL star and Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett has surrendered to authorities in Houston on a charge that he injured a paraplegic woman as he tried to get onto the field after this year’s Super Bowl.

Bennett, 32, appeared in Harris County Civil Court on Monday where the judge set his bond at $10,000 on a felony count of injury to the elderly, which he posted around 5pm.

He will be able to travel to and from Houston to his home in Hawaii.

Bennett, who was recently traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Philadelphia Eagles, was watching his brother, Martellus Bennett, play tight end for the New England Patriots against the Eagles at NRG Stadium this February

After Philadelphia’s win, Bennett reportedly pushed his way onto the field immediately afterward to see his brother despite being told to use a different entrance for field access.

Prosecutors allege he pushed through security personnel, including a 66-year-old woman in a wheelchair, who was a stadium employee and was suffered a sprained shoulder as a result.

 

NFL star and Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett (pictured) has surrendered to authorities in Houston on a charge that he injured a paraplegic woman as he tried to get onto the field after this year’s Super Bowl. 

Bennett, 32, appeared in Harris County Civil Court on Monday (pictured) where the judge set his bond at $10,000 on a felony count of injury to the elderly, which he posted around 5pm

Bennett, 32, appeared in Harris County Civil Court on Monday (pictured) where the judge set his bond at $10,000 on a felony count of injury to the elderly, which he posted around 5pm

Bennett (pictured, seated, September 2017)who was recently traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Philadelphia Eagles, was watching his brother, Martellus Bennett, play tight end for the New England Patriots against the Eagles at NRG Stadium this February

Bennett (pictured, seated, September 2017)who was recently traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Philadelphia Eagles, was watching his brother, Martellus Bennett, play tight end for the New England Patriots against the Eagles at NRG Stadium this February

‘Mr. Bennett forcibly opened the locked doors at the southwest corner of the NRG Budweiser tunnels,’ explained Houston police chief Art Acevedo.

‘Mr. Bennett then went up to a 66-year-old black female employee of the NRG, paraplegic, and pushed her,’ Acevedo continued. ‘Mr. Bennett then continued to try to get onto the field.

‘Bennett disregarded [one police officer], said “f*** you,” and walked passed him on the field… “Y’all must know who I am. I could own this mother f*****… I’m going onto the field whether you like it or not.”‘

After Philadelphia's win, Bennett (right) allegedly pushed his way onto the field immediately afterward to see his brother (left) despite being told to use a different entrance for field access

After Philadelphia’s win, Bennett (right) allegedly pushed his way onto the field immediately afterward to see his brother (left) despite being told to use a different entrance for field access

Bennett claims he was racially profiled as he and a crowd of people ran away from the sound of gunfire in the early hours of August 27 after the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight LVPD release body cam footage of Michael Bennett arrest Loaded: 0%Progress: 0%0:00 Previous Play Skip Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration Time 7:15 Fullscreen Need Text

Bennett claims he was racially profiled as he and a crowd of people ran away from the sound of gunfire in the early hours of August 27 after the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight LVPD release body cam footage of Michael Bennett arrest Loaded: 0%Progress: 0%0:00 Previous Play Skip Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration Time 7:15 Fullscreen Need Text

The 10-year veteran could be subject to a suspension or a fine, regardless of whether or not he is convicted.

The charge of injury to the elderly involves intentionally and knowingly, causing bodily injury to a person 65 years or older, and carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine in the state of Texas.

Bennett was in the news quite a bit in 2017.

Not only did the outspoken activist continue protesting inequality and police brutality against minorities by refusing to stand during the national anthem, but he also accused the Las Vegas Metro Police of profiling him following the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight in August.

As Bennett explained, he was returning to his hotel from T-Mobile Arena with ‘several hundred’ other people, when everyone heard what sounded like gunshots (the noise ultimately turned out to be a pylon that was knocked over). 

Prosecutors allege Bennett (pictured ahead of this year's Super Bowl) pushed through security personnel, including a 66-year-old woman in a wheelchair, who was a stadium employee and was suffered a sprained shoulder as a result.

Prosecutors allege Bennett (pictured ahead of this year’s Super Bowl) pushed through security personnel, including a 66-year-old woman in a wheelchair, who was a stadium employee and was suffered a sprained shoulder as a result.

The pack of people ran for safety, he explained, which is when a nearby police officer ordered him to get to the ground before putting a gun near his head and threatening to kill him.

Another officer allegedly ‘jammed’ his knee to Bennett’s back ‘forcefully,’ limiting his ability to breath. Then, according to Bennett, the officers cinched handcuffs on him so tightly that his fingers ‘went numb.’

In September, Las Vegas Metro Police Sheriff Joe Lombardo told reporters that his officers had reasonable suspicion to stop Bennett.

Lombardo added his belief that race was not a factor in the incident, as has been alleged by Bennett.

‘They did what they were trained to do,’ Lombardo said of his officers during a news conference in which bodycam footage of the incident was shown.

The footage shows Bennett being arrested, but it does not show any officer pointing a gun at him.     

Prosecutors allege he pushed through security personnel, including a 66-year-old woman in a wheelchair who was a stadium employee.

The Eagles acquired Michael Bennett from the Seattle Seahawks in a trade this offseason.



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