Pittman felt threatened
Published 5:00 am Thursday, July 22, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) – The preliminary hearing for University ofMississippi football player Jamal Pittman, accused of a felony guncharge and resisting arrest, has been rescheduled for Aug. 4 inMemphis.
The hearing was scheduled Wednesday in Shelby County CriminalCourt.
Authorities say Pittman waved the weapon at a group of people ina car late Saturday night and then pointed the gun toward a Memphispolice officer.
”The officers called for additional cars and then approachedthe defendant repeatedly telling him to drop the weapon,” thecomplaint said. Pittman allegedly waved the weapon at police andwould not drop it until officers closed in, struggled with him anddoused him with pepper spray.
Pittman’s attorney, Matt Eggleston of Memphis, said in astatement that the athlete had acted only because he feltthreatened. Besides felony reckless endangerment, Pittman ischarged with misdemeanor resisting arrest.
The incident occurred in an area near the Beale Streetentertainment district in Memphis. There were no reports ofinjuries.
Pittman, 21, of Columbia, had remained behind bars in lieu of a$50,000 bond pending the hearing.
Pittman and fellow player Ken Bournes, both now suspended fromthe team by coach David Cutcliffe, were arrested after anundercover police officer said he saw the two yelling and aimingguns at another group speeding away from the scene, according tothe police report.
Bournes faces a misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of aweapon. He posted a $1,000 bond and was released, police recordsshow.
Eggleston, a Memphis attorney representing Pittman, told TheClarion-Ledger that Pittman got his pistol only after he wasthreatened by passengers who later fled the scene.
No other arrests were made.
”After interviewing all of the witnesses, we are confident thatafter full adjudication of the matter it will be shown that Mr.Pittman was acting in self-defense,” Eggleston said in astatement. ”His actions were based on the threat of a thirdparty.”