Adrian Peterson’s father says that his son was the victim of mistreatment from the police -- and not the perpetrator -- when he was arrested and charged with resisting arrest in a Houston bar over the weekend.
Nelson Peterson told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the off-duty police officer who asked Adrian to leave the bar used “vulgar language.”
“From what I’ve gathered, he was very disrespectful to Adrian,” Nelson said.
Nelson said Adrian is respectful of the police but that he was treated badly and got a black eye when his face hit the ground during a skirmish with officers. The police claim Peterson pushed an officer.
“The officer said he pushed him, shoved him, then why is he not charged with assault?” Nelson said. “Only charged with resisting arrest. Doesn’t make sense.”
Nelson Peterson spent much of Adrian’s youth in prison and said his son learned the right lessons about staying out of trouble from that experience.
“Adrian is kind of frustrated because he’s the kind of guy who’s tried to do the right things in society and he cares about being a high-character guy,” Nelson said. “He has a 9-year-old daughter, so he doesn’t want her hearing in the news about how he’s being perceived. . . . “At the time, I didn’t realize the impact my actions can have on my kids. He knows that his actions affect him and his kids also.”
Peterson is still in Houston, working with a trainer as he rehabilitates his torn ACL.