After a recent arrest just days before the NFL Draft, the police report detailing the incident may reveal how much a star Georgia player’s conduct could affect his draft stock.
Only a few days before the Draft began in Pittsburgh, Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch was arrested on a pair of misdemeanor charges.
Branch was booked on misdemeanor charges of ‘obstructing public sidewalks/streets – prowling’ and ‘obstruction of a law enforcement officer’ per the Athens Clarke County arrest log.
However, the police report obtained by NFL Network revealed that the incident was simply a case of Branch standing on the sidewalk and not moving after an officer asked him to.
‘[Branch] continued to stand on the sidewalk without making an attempt to move,’ the police report said. ‘I continued to give Zacharia [sic] Branch verbal commands to move from blocking the sidewalk and advised that if he did not, he would receive a citation for blocking the sidewalk.
‘Zacharia [sic] Branch smirked, then stepped backwards and to the right, then remained standing upon the public sidewalk, so as to obstruct, hinder, and impede free passage upon the sidewalk as well as impede free ingress/egress to or from the adjacent places of business.’
More details about the arrest of Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch have been revealed
Branch’s misdemeanor arrest appeared to be due to him simply standing on a sidewalk
Branch, who is projected as a Day 2 pick, will likely not have his draft stock affected by this
The report says that due to Branch’s ‘failure to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands, he was placed under arrest.’
NFL fans were up in arms over what seemed to be a description of an incredibly weak arrest, leading some to wonder how this might harm his standing among the teams.
In response, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweeted, ‘Asked about this situation of a few folks on the personnel side of teams today.
‘They’ll do their research on it over the next few days but, barring some added info to come, doesn’t sound like it’ll be something that affects Zachariah Branch’s draft prospects greatly, if at all.’
Branch is projected to be a Day 2 pick, with ESPN’s Jordan Reid projecting him to be taken 73rd overall (third round) by the New Orleans Saints.
