Joe Mixon warrant, explained: Bengals RB wanted by police after allegedly threatening woman with gun

By | February 2, 2023
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Bengals running back Joe Mixon is wanted by police in Cincinnati after allegedly threatening to shoot a woman.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Thursday that an arrest warrant was issued for Mixon on a charge of aggravated menacing. According to an affadavit filed in Hamilton County (Ohio) Municipal Court, the incident took place the day before the Bengals’ divisional round game against the Bills.

Here is what is known about the warrant.

What is the charge against Joe Mixon?

According to the affidavit, Mixon pointed a gun at a woman on Jan. 21 and told her, “You should be popped in the face and I should shoot you.” Mixon allegedly told the woman, “The police can’ get me.” 

The Bengals released a brief statement Thursday night,

“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,” the Bengals said.

Mixon’s agent Peter Schaffer told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero that they expect charges to be dropped, and called out the police for the incident.

“It was a rush to judgment. They’re dropping the charges first thing in the morning. I really feel that police have an obligation before they file charges — because of the damage that can be done to the person’s reputation — to do their work. They should be held to a higher standard. Because I don’t play with people’s lives,” Schaffer said in the statement.

The Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway reported that as of Thursday evening, Mixon had not been processed into the Hamilton County jail.

This section will be updated as more information is reported.

What is aggravated menacing?

Mixon is wanted on a warrant for aggravated menacing. According to Ohio statute, aggravated menacing is defined as someone causing another person to believe they will cause “serious physical harm” to the person, someone else in the person’s family, an unborn of the person, or a corporation, association or organization that employs the person. The state considers it a first-degree misdemeanor.

According to Dominy Law Firm, aggravated menacing carries a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail, a maximum fine of $1,000 and a maximum of five years’ probation.

Joe Mixon 2014 assault

This is not Mixon’s first legal issue. The summer before he began attending the University of Oklahoma, he was charged with misdemeanor assault after he was accused of punching a woman during an argument.

The woman, Oklahoma student Amelia Molitor, was reportedly knocked unconscious and suffered four fractured bones in her face. She later needed reconstructive surgery. Mixon was arraigned in August on the charges.

Mixon told police that one of Molitor’s friends used a racial slur, and he also admitted he responded with an anti-gay slur. Molitor told police she and her friend, who is gay, were being harassed by Mixon and other teammates at Oklahoma.

A video of the incident showed Mixon approaching Molitor at the table before walking away. As he walked away, she pushed him. Mixon lunged at her, and she slapped him on the neck. Mixon punched her with his right hand, knocking her onto the table and the floor. He left after the incident.

Mixon was suspended for his freshman season at Oklahoma.

Mixon entered an Alford plea, which means he did not admit to the act and still claimed he was innocent but acknowledged that evidence would undoubtedly convict him. He served 100 hours of community service and underwent counseling.

Mixon apologized publicly when video of the incident was released and asked for Molitor to forgive him. 

“It really doesn’t matter what she did, it’s all on me,” Mixon said. “I take full responsibility for what I did. It’s never OK to hit a woman. I would preach that to anybody. Hopefully people around the world learn from my mistake.”

The two sides settled a civil lawsuit out of court. Molitor later released a statement to NFL.com saying she was happy to end the lawsuit and that she and Mixon had met without attorneys to talk about what happened.

“I greatly appreciate his apology and I think the feelings he expressed were sincere. We both could have handled things differently. I believe if we had a chance to go back to that moment in time, the situation would not have ended the way it did,” Molitor said.

Joe Mixon intimidation of parking attendant

In November 2016, while still at Oklahoma, Mixon was accused of intimidating a parking attendant after receiving a citation.

Mixon was issued the citation and, upon receiving it, got in his car and drove up to the officer in an attempt to intimidate. He was again suspended by the team and later apologized for the incident.

“I regret that I did not respond appropriately to parking attendants and understand and accept the consequences,” Mixon said.

Joe Mixon NFL career

The Oklahoma incidents were enough for Mixon to fall from a consensus first-round pick into the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The Bengals took him 48th overall.

The selection was considered controversial. He reportedly was listed as undraftable by several teams. He wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine and had to participate in Oklahoma’s pro day to give scouts a look at him.

The Bengals defended the decision in an op-ed in the Enquirer, saying that Mixon did a “terrible thing” but noted that he became “a good citizen in Norman, a popular teammate, a player respected by his coaches, and one of the most talented players in college football.”

Mixon quickly became a standout in Cincinnati, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in two of his first four years in the league and being named a team captain prior to the 2021 season. That season, he rushed for 1,205 yards and scored 13 touchdowns — both career highs — as he helped the Bengals to the Super Bowl. He retained his captaincy in 2022.

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