Prosecutors rejected spousal abuse charges against Keyshawn Johnson, saying they could not prove their case in court "beyond a reasonable doubt," officials confirmed Friday.
A charge evaluation worksheet prepared by a prosecutor said the District Attorney's Office would not be filing any charges because the woman was "uncooperative" and there were no other witnesses. "... Based upon the available evidence, the injury appears to have been minor and caused accidentally," the prosecutor wrote, noting that the woman's shirt collar was torn and that she sustained a small scratch to her finger during a struggle over a cellphone.
Johnson reacted to the news on Twitter.
"I am pleased that law enforcement acted quickly and that this matter has been fairly resolved," he said. "The quick decision results from the fact that I should not have been arrested because no crime was committed. I did not and would not touch, grab or strike a woman-- any woman."
He said that while he and his ex are pleased, they "very much resent the fact that I was ever arrested in the first place.
"I apologize to my friends, family, fans and colleagues for this matter."
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The 41-year-old former NFL and USC wide receiver was arrested in Calabasas April 21 after an argument he allegedly had with his ex-girlfriend who officials said kept interupting their conversation so she could check her cellphone.
He tried to take the phone away from her and accidentally scratched her instead, officials said.
Johnson, the No. 1 draft pick in 1996, was an All-American at USC and played wide-receiver for the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers. He retired after the 2006 season.
He's currently an ESPN commentator and analyst.
