Per Drew Davison of the Forth-Worth Star-Telegram, the Columbus prosecutor's office is declining to charge Ezekiel Elliott for domestic violence accusations leveled at him by a former girlfriend. According to Davison, the NFL is still reviewing the situation.
The statement from the City Attorney's office in full:
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
On Friday July 22, 2016, Tiffany Thompson, in conjunction with a perviously publicized Columbus Police report, filed an intake complaint with the City Attorney’s Office, Prosecutor Division. Her complaint included allegations of Domestic Violence by her boyfriend, Ezekiel Elliott, on 5 separate occasions. The time period of the allegations encompassed Sunday July 17, 2016 through Friday July 22, 2016.
Ms. Thompson completed the required paperwork and Intake staff conducted an interview where specific details about each allegation were gathered. Witness statements, police reports, and medical records were acquired. Photographs of text messages and visible injuries were taken. Upon completion of the initial investigative phase, the complaint was evaluated by a prosecutor. The evaluation called for follow up with several witnesses and a closer examination of all the evidence presented.
Subsequent to the filing of an intake complaint by Ms. Thompson, the City Attorney’s Office, Prosecutor Division was contacted by both a representative and legal counsel for Mr. Elliott. These individuals were cooperative with the investigation and provided additional information, including witness affidavits and photographs, for review and consideration.
A final evaluation of the complaint for potential charges involved an assessment of the credibility of all identified witnesses based on the accuracy and thoroughness of their statements both standing alone and in comparison to one other. Moreover, there was a careful examination of all injuries and an attempt to determine the source of their cause. Finally, the potential motive, if any, of all parties was examined.
After reviewing the totality of the evidence, the City Attorney’s Office, Prosecutor Division is declining to approve criminal charges in this matter for any of the 5 alleged incidents. This is primarily due to conflicting and inconsistent information across all incidents resulting in concern regarding the sufficiency of the evidence to support the filing of criminal charges.
The charges, which were first reported in late July, were denied by Elliott at the time.
Elliott's father, Stacy, took to Twitter soon after to celebrate his son's vindication.
My son has been vindicated! Truth has prevailed! If he had voliated one of OUR core values I personally would have had him charged! #Justice
— Ambassador Elliott (@stacy_elliott) September 6, 2016
Thompson accused the former Ohio State running back and current Dallas Cowboy of assaulting her early on July 22 while sitting in the driver's seat of her parked vehicle. Police spoke to four witnesses on the scene who all corroborated Elliott's side of the story and said they did not observe an assault.
She later filed a second police report outlining incidents of domestic violence spanning from July 17-22, which Elliott also denied. After she posted photos of her injuries on Instagram in an effort to speak against domestic violence, Elliott informed police she suffered the bruises and cuts in a bar fight with another woman. Elliott claimed he did not live with his accuser but did pay her rent and co-signed her car.
Stacy Elliott released a statement to ESPN's Adam Schefter shortly after the allegations came to light, maintaining his son's innocence and calling the accusations "completely false."
After reviewing the evidence, the county prosecutor elected to not charge the former Buckeye.
Deadspin posted the pertinent investigates documents Wednesday afternoon. In them, Elliott's girlfriend asks her friend to lie to police:
