CHALMETTE, Louis. — A warrant has been issued for Aldon Smith, an NFL defensive end who signed with the Seahawks last week, for an alleged battery in Chalmette, La., according to multiple reports.
Reporter Travis Mackel of New Orleans-based WDSU-TV tweeted Monday that Smith is wanted for an alleged second-degree battery that occurred Saturday night at the French Press Coffee House in Chalmette. Mike Triplett, who covers the New Orleans Saints for ESPN NFL Nation, confirmed the report on his Twitter account.
According to ESPN, St. Bernard Parish District Attorney Perry Nicosia said Smith allegedly choked a victim unconscious inside the coffee house.
The Seahawks released a statement around noon Monday acknowledging the reports, stating that Smith notified the team of the situation and that they are “gathering more information.”
Statement from a @Seahawks spokesperson: pic.twitter.com/anRwYtuvIf
— Seahawks PR (@seahawksPR) April 19, 2021
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Smith’s NFL career has been marred with legal and substance abuse issues, and he was out of the league from 2016 through 2019 as a result. He was reinstated for the 2020 season and started in all 16 games for the Dallas Cowboys. Smith’s signing with the Seahawks was officially announced on Thursday, two days before the alleged battery.
After two strong seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, Smith first ran into trouble in 2013 when he was arrested on suspicion of DUI after he crashed his truck into a tree in San Jose, Calif.
In 2014, the NFL suspended Smith for nine games for a violation of the league’s personal conduct and substance abuse policies.
Smith was arrested on hit-and-run, DUI and vandalism charges and subsequently released by the 49ers in 2015.
He was suspended again by the NFL later that year after joining the Raiders for another substance abuse policy violation.
The Raiders released Smith in 2018 after he was charged with domestic violence, assault and false imprisonment. He pleaded no contest to a pair of misdemeanor charges to settle the domestic violence case in November 2018.
The NFL suspended Smith indefinitely in February 2019, but he signed with the Cowboys and was reinstated for the 2020 season.
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