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On the eve of the Carolina Panthers' biggest game of the season, offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges was arrested Sunday night and charged with simple assault and battery and communicating threats.
The charges stemmed from an incident Saturday night involving Dom Perignon champagne and a bouncer at Villa Antonio Restaurant in Ballantyne, according to Bridges' attorney, George Laughrun, and the restaurant's manager.
Bridges turned himself in Sunday night and was expected to be released after posting $2,500 bond. Laughrun said he expected Bridges would plead not guilty.
Panthers spokesman Charlie Dayton said Carolina team officials were aware of the charges and were trying to get more information.
Other Panthers' players were gathered Sunday night in a local hotel awaiting their Monday Night Football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium.
Bridges, 6-foot-5, 325 pounds, is a reserve lineman for the Panthers who started four games at right tackle earlier this season when regular starter Jeff Otah was injured.
The manager at Villa Antonio, Miguel Rullier, said the incident started when Bridges ordered a bottle of Dom Perignon from the restaurant bar Saturday night and shook it up, causing the champagne to spew and get other patrons wet.
Rullier said Bridges was asked to leave and politely agreed to do so.
He said a female customer who had been doused then pursued Bridges, complaining loudly.
“I don't know what she told him, but it made him irritable,” said Rullier.
Rullier said Bridges became angry and had to be restrained by a bouncer. He said Bridges pushed the bouncer out of the way, but did not strike anyone else.
“He was yelling and out of control,” said Rullier. “He's a big guy and we couldn't handle it anymore, so we called the police.”
Rullier said Bridges left about 10 minutes later, before police arrived.
Laughrun said Bridges doesn't dispute the part of the story about the wine bottle erupting, but denies that Bridges pushed a bouncer or threatened anyone.
“He left his credit card there and had to go back and get his credit card,” said Laughrun. “There was a woman who evidently got irate. But we adamantly disagree that he pushed or shoved anybody, or communicated threats to anyone.”
Bridges, 28, was suspended by the Panthers for the first two games of last season after getting arrested the day before training camp started on misdemeanor assault charges that he pointed a gun at a woman outside a Charlotte strip club.
He pleaded not guilty, but was convicted in a one-day trial last November. He was given a 60-day suspended jail sentence and ordered to perform community service. Bridges initially appealed, but later withdrew the appeal.
Bridges could face disciplinary action by the Panthers and/or the NFL if it is determined that he violated the league’s personal conduct policy.
