Eagles' safety Allen cleared
Police in Florida say Nate Allen, who was taken into custody, was not involved in an incident in which lewd behavior was alleged.
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EAGLES SAFETY Nate Allen was officially cleared of wrongdoing yesterday in last week's incident in Fort Myers, Fla., in which Allen was detained by police who questioned him about a complaint regarding lewd behavior.
The Florida 20th Judicial Circuit Court State Attorney's office announced yesterday that it had determined "Mr. Allen could not have been the perpetrator alleged in the reports."
Allen, a Florida resident, told the Daily News last week that he was kept in a holding cell 4 1/2 hours on the afternoon of Feb. 16, after being stopped as he was driving his pickup truck home from a restaurant. Allen said a young woman driven to the scene by police identified him as the man who pulled up next to her in traffic and exposed himself while masturbating.
"Being associated with something this repulsive is disgusting," Allen said after being released without having been charged. He said he had urged a further investigation, including use of security and traffic cameras, to clear his name.
Turned out, those tools did indeed help, the State Attorney's office said. The Fort Myers police provided details to the Naples (Fla.) Daily News.
The newspaper said Allen's accuser "described the vehicle as a black pickup truck, most likely a Ford. She described the man as a biracial male, about 45 to 55 years old, with a goatee, wearing a red shirt and white cap."
Allen, 27, drives a Ford F-250 pickup, but the newspaper said video footage showed his truck had different wheels than the pickup of the perpetrator, and that he had come through the intersection several minutes after the alleged incident occurred. The paper also said Fort Myers police chief Doug Baker has ordered an internal review of how the incident was handled.
"After reviewing the case and situation, Mr. Nate Allen should be commended for his patience, cooperation and understanding," State Attorney Steve Russell said. "Further, the victim should be commended for her cooperation and willingness to report the offense."
Allen, a second-round draft choice in 2010, is set to become a free agent March 10.