Atlanta Falcons’ Cameron Batson faces 5 charges after arrest

ATLANTA — Atlanta Falcons practice squad wide receiver Cameron Batson has been officially booked and charged with five felonies stemming from his arrest early Saturday morning.

Batson was booked Saturday, Fulton County Jail records show, and charged with assault, assault, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer while on official duty , withdrawal of a weapon from a public official and flight-driving to escape a police officer.

If convicted, depending on the crime, Batson could face up to 20 years in prison.

Batson was arrested around 2 a.m. Saturday morning on Interstate 75 North at the Northside Drive exit in Atlanta after police allegedly saw his van speeding. Police attempted to take Batson into custody after determining he was intoxicated, and he “resisted and fought violently with the officer,” according to a statement released by police. Atlanta.

During the altercation, police say, the officer fired his gun, hitting no one, before Batson got back in his truck and drove off. According to police, he crashed the truck at Northside and Echota Drive, fled on foot, went into hiding, and was found by police and arrested. Batson and the officer were taken to hospital for treatment.

The Falcons released a statement Saturday after the arrest acknowledging Batson’s arrest.

“We have been made aware of an overnight incident involving Cameron Batson and are currently collecting information from law enforcement,” the statement said. “We are taking this matter seriously and have no further comment at this time.”

Batson, 27, has been on Atlanta’s practice squad all season but hasn’t been called up for any games. Undrafted from Texas Tech in 2018, Batson played for the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2021, appearing in 27 games with 22 catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns and 16 kick returns for 311 yards.