Jacksonville Jaguars DE Dante Fowler arrested in St. Petersburg

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler is facing battery and mischief charges after police say he hit a man and threw his liquor into a lake in St. Petersburg.

Fowler, a former Gators star who was the Jaguars' first-round pick in 2015, was arrested Tuesday at 9 p.m. in his hometown of St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg police said Fowler was driving near the Trellis at the Lakes apartment complex on Fourth Street when a man walking down the street made a comment about Fowler's driving.

Police said Fowler got out of his car and exchanged words with the man.

He hit the man, knocked off his glasses and stepped on them, and then threw a grocery bag of liquor that the man had just bought in a lake, police said.

The man was not injured.

Fowler was arrested on misdemeanor simple battery and mischief charges.

The 22-year-old was released from jail at 1:43 a.m. Wednesday.

The Jaguars released a statement:

The Jaguars are aware of the situation involving defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. and are currently gathering more information. The team has been in communication with Dante. No further comment will be made at this time."

According to Tampa Bay Times, Fowler was arrested in Miami Beach in March 2016 for assault on a police officer/EMT and resisting arrest without violence.

The misdemeanor charges were dropped in December 2016, the Times reports.

The arrest came 17 days after video was posted online of Fowler watching a fight between his girlfriend and ex-girlfriend. He later apologized for his involvement.

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Some people called for Fowler's release after his St. Petersburg arrest, while others pointed out the charges were misdemeanors.

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