Dalvin Cook accused of punching woman outside Tallahassee bar

Florida State star running back from Miami suspended from team

Dalvin Cook was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge Friday.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Florida State star running back Dalvin Cook is accused of punching a woman in the face during an argument outside a Tallahassee bar last month.

An arrest warrant was issued Friday for the 19-year-old sophomore from Miami. Cook later turned himself in to police and was booked into the county jail on a charge of misdemeanor battery.

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Shortly before his arrest, FSU announced that Cook was indefinitely suspended from the team.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Cook punched Madison Geohegan more than once in the face during an altercation outside Clyde's and Costello's after the bar was closed.

Geohegan and a friend were speaking to several FSU football players when they "began to get into a heated, verbal argument, which mainly centered between Geohegan" and a man later identified as Cook, the affidavit said.

Another man became upset with Geohegan when she told him that she had a boyfriend, so he began to yell obscenities at her, the affidavit said.

"She said Cook came over and was originally trying to calm the situation down," the affidavit said. "The other (man) had walked away, but was continuing to yell at her. At some point, (wide receiver) Travis Rudolph also approached her and began a conversation, which turned into an argument between them."

Geohegan told police "she had several people yelling at her and that the situation was confusing."

She said Rudolph was too close to her, so she pushed him away, the affidavit said.

Cook asked Geohegan if she had to push Rudolph, and she said after that "it happened quick."

Geohegan said both parties were "yelling and screaming" at each other when Cook began swinging at her.

"She did not know how many times she was struck, but she fell back against a black Jeep parked along the roadway," the affidavit said.  "Cook was restrained by people nearby and Geohegan remained near the Jeep as Cook was forced back" from her.

Cook approached her again and, while being restrained, managed to strike her at least one more time in the face, the affidavit said.

Police said Geohegan, who was intoxicated, had a bloody lip and dirt on her left knee.

During a July 1 interview with police, Cook said he couldn't remember getting into an argument and denied hitting anyone, the affidavit said.

The alleged incident occurred June 23, one day before former quarterback De'Andre Johnson punched another woman at a Tallahassee nightclub. FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher dismissed Johnson from the team Monday night, hours after the state attorney's office released surveillance video showing Johnson punching the 21-year-old FSU student in the face.

"Recent events at Florida State University involving members of my football team have brought a lot of attention to the school and program," Fisher said in a statement Friday. "It is important to me that our fans and the public be aware that I do not tolerate the type of behavior that was captured on video and that was most recently alleged."

Fisher said he and his staff have spent time educating the players about "appropriate behavior and their responsibilities as representatives of Florida State."

"The majority of our players are exemplary, but clearly we must place an even stronger emphasis on this, and I personally promise we will," Fisher said. "I remain committed to educating our young men and holding them accountable for their actions."

FSU President John Thrasher said in a statement that he was "extremely disappointed to learn of this allegation against Dalvin Cook."

"I fully support the immediate and indefinite suspension of Cook from the football team while we look into this matter further and due process runs its course," Thrasher said.

Cook attended Miami Central Senior High School, where he was named Mr. Football in Florida as a senior. He was FSU's leading rusher last season, running for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns for the Seminoles, but he also had two costly fumbles in FSU's 59-20 loss to Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinal Rose Bowl.

"Florida State is a great university," Fisher said. "Our fans and supporters deserve better than to hear of actions that are not consistent with the school's proud history and national stature. We will do better. I will not tolerate anything less."

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