“I’m sorry that this happened,” Jones told reporters as he left the Hamilton County Jail, more than 32 hours after he was booked on four charges. He said that it’d be different if had beaten people up, but that all he did was touch someone.
“Obviously if you read into it, none of this makes sense,” Jones said. “We’re going to see how it goes and I’m more than eager that this will be dismissed pretty soon.”
Jones, whose NFL career was nearly ended by suspensions and arrests before the Bengals signed him in 2010, said he planned to discuss the situation with Bengals coach Marvin Lewis. A Bengals spokesman said Tuesday the team was aware of the incident, but wouldn’t comment until the legal case was resolved.
Authorities said Jones tangled with hotel security investigating after he was pounding on hotel room doors Monday night. Cincinnati police said he pushed a security employee and poked him in the eye, then struggled, kicking and head-butting, as officers tried to put him into a police vehicle on the initial charge of assault.
He was charged with two more misdemeanors, of disorderly conduct and obstructing official business, and a felony charge of harassment with a bodily substance was added after the sheriff’s office said he spit on a nurse’s hand at the jail.
A judge Tuesday set bond at $37,500 and ordered Jones to provide a blood sample and be tested for communicable diseases. The sheriff’s office said it had to wait until medical staff was available Wednesday morning, so Jones remained in jail overnight.
Public defender Lauren Staley said in court Tuesday that Jones “vehemently denies” that he assaulted anyone and will hire an attorney to contest the charges.
Jones will be subject to potential NFL discipline after the case is resolved.