Buffalo Bills Safety Donte Whitner Charged After "Near Riot" Outside Ted Ginn Jr.'s Birthday Party

Buffalo Bills safety Donte Whitner has been charged with "aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest for his role in an altercation outside a Cleveland nightclub early Saturday", according to the AP.

ESPN described the circumstances of Whitner's arrest indicating that Whitner visited the House of Blues in Cleveland (apparently, to celebrate Miami Dolphins' WR Ted Ginn Jr.'s birthday), and ended up in a "near riot". ESPN noted a police statement describing the not-so-festive scene:

"...a brawl erupted outside the club at about 3 a.m. As off-duty officers tried to restore order, Whitner aggressively forced his way into an area where he was told not to go. Officers temporarily restrained him before he broke free and squared off to fight.

"Whitner began swinging his arms in a violent manner and, when restrained by officers, he broke free and took a fighting stance," the Cleveland Police statement read. "An officer then deployed his Taser on Whitner, debilitating him enough that officers were able to place him in handcuffs."

Whitner issued this mea culpa:

"I regret the incident that occurred last evening," Whitner said in a statement released Saturday. "It's not how I wish to conduct myself. And I apologize to all those involved."

Whitner becomes the latest Buffalo Bills player to have a run-in with the law, with running back Marshawn Lynch previously holding the unwanted spotlight for his involvement in a hit-and-run and weapons offenses. Lynch was punished by the NFL for his most recent offense with a 3 day suspension, and Whitner could now be next in line for sanctions under the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy.