It seems that a video allegedly showing Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs in an altercation with a woman may soon be released after all.
A judge in Brown County, Wisconsin, decided on Thursday to keep evidence in Jacobs’ battery case unsealed, which means the footage that supposedly captures the NFL player confronting his former girlfriend could become public.
In his ruling, Judge Marc Hammer directed the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department to handle any new requests for the records. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, this means that it will be up to the police department to decide if releasing the footage is fair.
Demovsky stated, “Any new requests for the records will be managed by the HLPD. If they choose to release the records, both the victim and Jacobs will have the opportunity to be heard.”
Jacobs is facing charges including one count of battery and one count of criminal damage to property. This follows allegations that he physically assaulted a woman, referred to as “ANM,” during a heated argument at his home in Wisconsin last May.
The criminal complaint details that Jacobs allegedly threw the woman to the ground and later damaged her mobile phone. Prosecutors noted that part of this altercation was recorded by surveillance cameras.
After Jacobs entered a no contest plea to the charges in September, it was anticipated that the video would be made available through police records requests. However, on September 15, ANM requested that a judge seal that evidence.
In her court filing, she expressed concern that if the footage became public, it could jeopardize her “privacy, dignity, and safety.”
ANM’s request stated, “Without restraint, Hobart-Lawrence Police Department could release information that irreparably compromises my privacy and safety. Once sensitive information is made public, the harm cannot be fully undone.”
Ramses Jalalpour, representing ANM, commented after the judge’s ruling that should the Hobart-Lawrence Police decide to release any files related to the case, they would likely seek a court order to prevent that, citing the rights guaranteed under Wisconsin’s Constitution.
As of now, Jacobs has been on the commissioner’s exempt list since August, which means he cannot practice or play for the Packers.
