New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas found himself in legal trouble on Friday, apprehended by Kenner police around 7 p.m. The charges include misdemeanor counts of simple battery and criminal mischief.
Thomas, reportedly cooperative during the arrest, went through booking procedures without incident and was released around 10 p.m., according to law enforcement sources.
The arrest originated from a clash between Thomas and a construction worker involved in building a house in the receiver’s neighborhood. Allegedly upset about the worker parking in front of his residence, Thomas engaged in verbal altercations and reportedly threw a brick at the worker’s windshield, causing minor damage. The worker claimed that Thomas, unhappy about being recorded, pushed him and knocked the phone from his hands.
The tensions had been brewing for weeks, with Thomas repeatedly asking construction workers not to park in front of his house, threatening vehicle damage if ignored, as per the worker’s account to WDSU, the local NBC affiliate.
Legal proceedings for the charges are expected in Kenner’s Mayor’s Court, handling cases related to traffic violations, misdemeanors, and city code enforcement.
The New Orleans Saints have acknowledged the incident and stated that they are gathering information.
This incident marks the second arrest of a Saints player in Kenner within the past month, following wide receiver Chris Olave’s arrest on October 23 for suspected reckless operation of a motor vehicle.