Packers' Josh Jacobs released from jail as investigation continues
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Brown County District Attorney David Lasee declined to file domestic abuse charges against Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, requesting further investigation into the allegations, according to a May 27 news release.
After reviewing the available evidence, Lasee said the DA's office "is not yet prepared to make a formal charging decision." The district attorney's office requested additional investigation, "as there is reason to believe that additional evidence may exist that would impact whether criminal charges are appropriate, and what charges would be issued," Lasee said in the release.
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Jacobs was arrested May 26 by Hobart-Lawrence police and booked into the Brown County Jail. Officers from the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department were dispatched at 8:37 a.m. May 23 to a disturbance complaint that ultimately led to Jacobs' arrest, according to a news release from Chief Michael Renkas.
The department referred charges of battery, criminal damage of property, disorderly conduct, each with domestic abuse enhancers, as well as strangulation and suffocation, and intimidation of a victim, to the Brown County District Attorney's Office, Renkas said in the release.
Jacobs has been released from custody at 12:20 p. m. May 27, according to Brown County Jail records. A final charging decision will be made in the future.
Lasee said the standard for arrest is lower than the standard for issuing criminal charges. Law enforcement officers are mandated to arrest an individual if there is probable cause to believe the person committed a crime and there is "a reasonable basis" to believe the crime involved domestic abuse; to file criminal charges, the district attorney must find there is admissible evidence that rises to the level of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, Lasee said in the release.
Lasee said that "it is common for our office to review referrals where law enforcement has made a mandatory arrest for domestic abuse, but our office chooses to release the individual from custody and request further investigation before making a formal charging decision."
Attorneys for Jacobs said in a statement on May 26 that Jacobs "vehemently denies the allegations, and this matter is in the early stages of investigation with important evidence that has not yet been made public."
Vivian Barrett is the public safety reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at [email protected] or (920) 431-8314.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: District Attorney declines Josh Jacobs charges, investigation continues