Wayne County Won't Charge DK Metcalf After Detroit Altercation
Wayne County prosecutors said on May 1 that DK Metcalf will not face criminal charges for the altercation at detroit's Ford Field during the Steelers' December game against the Detroit Lions. The decision closes the criminal side of the case after months of scrutiny, but the separate civil fight tied to the same incident is still active.
Ford Field altercation
Prosecutors said the fan involved was Ryan Kennedy, who did not appear to be injured and did not seek medical attention at the game. Their review centered on what happened in the stands before and during the brief exchange with the Steelers wide receiver.
"After an extensive review of all the relevant evidence, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office has determined that charges will not issue in this case." Prosecutors also said Kennedy left his seat holding a Metcalf jersey to get an autograph at approximately 5:30 p.m., then said something to Metcalf as he approached the front railing of the stands.
Prosecutors' review
In the account released with the charging decision, prosecutors said that Metcalf grabbed Kennedy's shirt and pushed him back during that brief interaction. That account was enough for investigators to review the incident, but not enough for criminal charges to follow.
The outcome also leaves intact the earlier league discipline. Metcalf was suspended two games without pay for the incident, costing him more than $500,000 in game checks and voiding $45 million in guarantees.
Mitch Schuster civil fight
Mitch Schuster said he and his side "applaud the decision and are thankful for the hard work and thorough investigation that led to this just result." He added, "We are confident that justice will also prevail in the civil claim involving Mr. Kennedy. As Mr. Metcalf's counterclaim in the civil case makes clear, Mr. Kennedy's hate-fueled conduct has no place anywhere, and especially not in professional sports," and said he will continue the civil legal fight on behalf of his client.
Kennedy is suing Metcalf, Chad Johnson and Shannon Sharpe, among others, for making defamatory and life-altering statements. With no criminal charges moving forward, the dispute now sits in the civil case that still names several high-profile figures from outside the Steelers' locker room.
