Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon has been charged with aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor in the state of Ohio.
Mixon has been accused of pointing a gun at a woman in downtown Cincinnati, with the warrant claiming Mixon said, “You should be popped in the face. I should shoot you. The cops can get me.”
The incident allegedly happened just blocks from the Bengals downtown home, Paycor Stadium. The date of the alleged incident was Jan. 21, the day before Cincinnati’s Divisional Round playoff game against the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo. The charge is related to threatening to injure someone or damage their property.
The Bengals acknowledged the warrant in a statement: “The club is aware misdemeanor charges have been raised against Joe Mixon. The club is investigating the situation and will not comment further at this time.”
Mixon, 26, has played with the Bengals since 2017. The Antioch, California native has spent his entire pro career with Cincinnati, earning his first Pro Bowl selection in the 2021 season. Mixon rushed 210 times for 814 yards and caught 60 passes for 441 yards in 2022, while playing in 14 games for the Bengals, whose season ended in an AFC Championship Game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last week. Mixon missed several games at the early part of the season with a concussion.
While in college at Oklahoma, Mixon pled guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge in 2014 after punching a woman and breaking bones in her face. Mixon was forced to undergo counseling and serve 100 hours of community service. A settlement was reached in a civil case that included an apology from Mixon. He was also suspended for one game in 2016 after an altercation with a parking attendant.
The Bengals signed Mixon to a contact extension in 2020 that has him set to earn $9.4 million in salary plus over $600,000 in bonuses in 2023. The club has a team option for 2024 that is worth over $10.4 million.