Attorney denies Bucs' Blount involved in beating of fan

An attorney for Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount denies the player was involved in a beating after a Sept. 11 Bucs game.

A Bucs fan had told police two people had attacked him after a crash and a third person who appeared to be a wrestler or a football player directed the attack. The vehicle that was struck in the crash is owned by Blount's sister.

Officers investigated the incident but Blount was not charged.

"It's absurd," said Blount's attorney, Ryan Morgan. "We categorically deny that he was directing anything." The only reason Blount's name is being mentioned at all is that he's in the NFL and can be used as a monetary target, Morgan said.

Gary Holmer, 34, told police he was coming home from the Bucs' season opener against the Lions at Raymond James Stadium when the incident happened. Holmer, who was wearing a Bucs shirt, said he was assaulted at Visconti Apartments, 2021 Le Mans Drive in Tampa, after his Toyota Tundra's passenger mirror bumped a Ford Expedition that three men were standing beside.

Holmer said he pulled around the corner and tried to park after the crash. That's when, Holmer said, the Expedition swung around him and cut him off and three people got out.

Before Holmer could say anything, one of the males "punched him several times on his eye, nose and jaw," Holmer says in a police report. "Holmer stated that he realized a second male was on his hood and was jumping onto his windshield cracking the windshield and ultimately shattering the glass.

"Holmer stated that the largest of the males was taunting him and coaching the other two during the attack. Holmer stated that his girlfriend, Emily Buethe, was screaming and crying hysterically as he blacked out. Holmer does not know if he was out for a second or many seconds but when he came to the third male was screaming at him."

Holmer said he knew his eye was injured and that he couldn't see through his shattered windshield, but that he felt he would be killed if he didn't move, the report states. So, he said, he put his truck in drive and possibly hit the Expedition blocking his way.

Holmer told the officer his eye was swollen shut and that he feared his nose or nasal cavity was broken. He said he believed his jawbone was swollen or displaced.

In their report, police indicated Holmer's left eye was swollen and that his nose appeared swollen and possibly distorted.

But Holmer ultimately didn't want to move forward with charges.

"He stated that he wanted to move on and feel safe again and he feared that by pursuing his attackers he would be putting himself in danger," the report states.

Blount, 25, declined to cooperate with police in the investigation of the beating.

Morgan, Blount's attorney, said he learned of the incident after the Bucs received an email from Holmer's attorney, Brian Hoag, asking for $95,000. Morgan said the email was forwarded to him.

Hoag issued a written statement Tuesday evening.

"Our client is a Bucs fan that went to the game that day and was subsequently assaulted and battered in the parking garage of his apartment complex upon returning home that evening with his girlfriend."

He disputed the accusation that the case was a money grab.

"The facts detailed in the police report clearly reflect that our client was the victim of severe bodily injury and property damages," Hoag said in the statement. "We do not wish to question anyone's character – we only seek recovery of Mr. Holmer's damages."

Police initially were called to investigate a possible hit-and-run involving Holmer, where the Tundra had entered the garage, struck the Expedition and later struck three other vehicles.

The Tundra was impounded. When officers inspected it, officers determined its windshield damage was odd – as though someone did a "cannon ball" into it, the report states. The damage was "the size of a grown man's rear end" and didn't appear to have happened during a crash.

Officers contacted Holmer, who initially inquired about how he might get his truck back. As officers questioned Holmer, he told them he had been attacked, the report states.

Morgan said Blount was behind the wheel of the Expedition but remained in the vehicle to take care of his 7-year-old autistic nephew when the altercation occurred. Morgan said Blount did not see what transpired between Holmer and the other men, whom he described as acquaintances of Blount. Morgan said did not know how long Blount had known the men.

Blount has had prior, well-documented on-field issues.

While playing for the University of Oregon, Blount was suspended after punching Boise State defensive end Byron Hout in the jaw.

While playing for the Tennessee Titans, Blount punched the helmet of defensive end Eric Bakhtiari shortly after having his own helmet ripped off.

Neither Holmer nor his attorney immediately returned calls asking for comment.