New England Patriots

Patriots Legend Willie McGinest Arrested on Assault Charge in California

After giving a statement about what happened at a West Hollywood nightclub, McGinest was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, sheriff's deputies said

This Oct. 23, 2021, file photo shows Willie McGinest be introduced during the Patriots Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, File

New England Patriots Hall of Famer Willie McGinest was arrested Monday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon at a Los Angeles-area nightclub earlier this month, officials said.

The retired linebacker had been identified as one of the people involved in an assault at a nightclub on Santa Monica Boulevard near Fairfax Avenue in West Hollywood on Friday, Dec. 9, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.

After giving a statement about what happened, McGinest was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, deputies said. McGinest posted $30,000 for bail, according to inmate records.

It wasn't immediately clear if McGinest had an attorney who could speak to the charge.

Deputies didn't release more information about what happened in the Dec. 9 incident, including the name of the nightclub.

A Long Beach native who now serves as an NFL Network analyst, McGinest played in the NFL for 15 seasons, most of them for the Patriots, where he's third all-time in sacks. He finished his career as a Cleveland Brown.

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