Browns' Coleman named in apartment brawl; denies involvement
Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman's agent, David Mulugheta, released a statement Thursday after his client's name appeared in a police report regarding an alleged felonious assault that occurred the morning of Dec. 31 in Coleman's apartment complex in Cleveland.
"Unfortunately Corey Coleman's name has surfaced in a police report concerning an incident that occurred in the lobby of the apartment complex in which he lives," Mulugheta said, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. "Corey, while aware of the incident, denies the allegations that have been made and looks forward to clearing his name."
Mulugheta denied that the rookie was even present, and claimed Coleman wasn't involved. Coleman's attorney, Kevin Spellacy, said the Cleveland Police are in possession of a 30-second video which shows that Coleman is not involved, reports Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
"My client denies participating in this incident," Spellacy said, according to ESPN's Pat McManamon. "He will fully cooperate with the appropriate authorities and looks forward to clearing his name from what has been alleged."
According to the police report, the victim, Adam Sapp, was left with a ruptured eardrum and a concussion after a confrontation with four men in the lobby of The Pinnacle Condominiums on West Lakeside.
Sapp and Nina Holman, listed as a witness in the report, were allegedly walking toward the elevator at about 2:50 a.m. when four men got off the elevator, and then a verbal confrontation followed. The report states that Sapp was woken by Holman in a stairwell, where he was treated by medical EMS.
Holman alleges Coleman was one of four other men involved in the incident, though Sapp was unable to identify any of them, and said he did not remember any details about the altercation.
Holman told ESPN she was unable to talk about the incident, but the police report says she told a friend with whom she was staying that Coleman "beat up Sapp."
Coleman played in 10 games during his first season in the NFL after being selected 15th overall by the Browns in the 2016 NFL Draft, catching 33 passes for 413 yards and three touchdowns.