Driver's father hospitalized in Houston
By Greg A. Bedard of the Journal Sentinel
Nov. 19, 2008 5:33 p.m. |
Green Bay - Marvin Driver Jr., the father of Green Bay Packers receiver Donald Driver, is in a Houston hospital. His family alleged he was beaten by police.
Both the Driver family and Houston Police Department have differing stories about the incident. Both, however, agree that Mr. Driver was arrested during a traffic stop because of outstanding traffic warrants at 1:30 a.m. Monday and was set to be taken to jail.
The family insists Mr. Driver "never made it to jail" and was picked up by paramedics after he was found lying on the ground bloody and unconscious.
Mr. Driver is now in the hospital and can't speak because of some bleeding on his brain from blunt force trauma, according to the family.
"Mr. Driver Jr. is able to communicate through notes where he has described the torture he went through at the hand of HPD officers," according to the family's statement.
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Marvin Driver's family showed photos of Driver in his hospital bed with breathing tubes in his mouth. The family also showed the notes written by Driver that alleged that he knew at least one of the officers and that they took him behind a gas station where they beat him and forced an object down his throat.
Driver's family also alleged that the arresting officers made disparaging remarks about his son.
The police said that Mr. Driver made it to the jail and there he was found to be unresponsive. Mr. Driver was then transported to the hospital.
Houston police said it will investigate the allegations. The two officers involved will remain on duty pending the investigation.
Donald Driver was scheduled to be given Wednesday and Thursday off from practice to heal up some nagging injuries.
Coach Mike McCarthy said Driver has been excused to deal with a "personal situation that has come up." He said further comment would be inappropriate at this time.
Driver is expected back in time for Monday night's game against the New Orleans Saints.
Driver's father was in prison for some of his childhood. Driver has not spoken much of his father in interviews but one story said he had reconnected with his father after the elder Driver got out prison. His father urged him to stay out of trouble and not follow his path.
While Driver spends much of the off-season in Green Bay, he also spends some time in Houston and has worked out with teammates there in the past.
Fellow wide receivers James Jones and Ruvell Martin, along with quarterback Aaron Rodgers had no knowledge of the situation when asked about it after practice.