Sanders Acquitted Over Dispute With Stadium Security Guard

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Deion Sanders was acquitted Wednesday of all charges related to a dispute with a stadium security guard after a game Aug. 8.

After the jury deliberated for 1 hour, 45 minutes and returned its verdict, the two-sport star met with the jurors and signed autographs for them. A court officer said he also signed a baseball for the panel of six women and two men.

“I just told them God bless them,” Sanders said. “I am glad they came in with open minds.”

He also said he had no hard feelings toward police.

“One bad apple don’t spoil the whole bunch,” he said, referring to Herb Kohus, an off-duty police officer who was working as a security guard at Riverfront Stadium.

Just before the Hamilton County Municipal Court jury began deliberations, judge David Davis dismissed one of the four misdemeanor charges against Sanders, who also play for the San Francisco 49ers.

He threw out a charge of driving without a license after evidence was presented that showed Sanders had a valid Florida driver’s license at the time. His hometown is Fort Myers, Fla.

Sanders, who pleaded innocent, told the jury he had not done anything wrong.

He said Kohus mistreated him by yelling “get the hell out of here” as Sanders tried to drive his motor scooter toward a pedestrian-only gate at the stadium.

The 27-year-old player also testified that Kohus called him “boy,” which Sanders said was disrespectful.

Kohus reportedly tripped and fell as Sanders drove away on his motor scooter.

Kohus said he ran alongside Sanders’ motor scooter and was dragged by the vehicle when he got his hands tangled as he tried to switch off the ignition.

A Carolina League pitcher injured during a brawl in a game between Durham and Winston-Salem underwent surgery Wednesday to repair broken jawbones.

Glen Cullop, a pitcher for the WinstonSalem Warthogs, lost several teeth during Monday night’s fight and was briefly knocked unconscious.

Cullop was injured in a bench-clearing brawl that began after several batters were hit by pitches. Ten players were ejected following the incident, which occurred on “Strike Out Domestic Violence” night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.