Miami PD considers Yasiel Puig case closed, Dodgers decline to comment
New details on Yasiel Puig's reported fight at a martini bar in Miami have emerged courtesy of the Los Angeles Times' Dylan Hernandez.
After speaking to Major Delrish Moss of the Miami Police Department, Hernandez has learned that though Puig was clearly involved in an altercation on Wednesday night, what was reported to the Miami PD paints a far less troubling scene.
[Free ship over $50 Enter Code ShipGift50 – At Yahoo Fan Shop]
In a series of tweets with direct quotes from Moss, TMZ's claim that Puig's "scuffle" stemmed from him shoving his sister was refuted. Moss also stated the Miami PD considers the case closed after Puig and the bouncer who confronted Puig declined to press charges.
Miami PD spokesman: "No shoving was alleged" between Puig and his sister.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 28, 2015
Miami PD spokesman: "To the best of our knowledge, the only physical altercation was between the bouncer and Puig."
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 28, 2015
Because Puig and bouncer didn't have any interest in pressing charges against each other, Miami PD considers the case closed.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 28, 2015
Miami PD spokesman chuckled when I told him TMZ referred to the Puig incident as a brawl. "I would say scuffle," he said.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 28, 2015
What a difference a day and a few details make, though it does appear Puig lied to police about acting in self-defense. That might explain why he elected to not press charges, and it also might indicate he's lucky the bouncer decided not to either..
Puig told Miami PD he punched bouncer in self-defense, claiming bouncer punched him 1st and was expecting bouncer to punch him again. (1/2)
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 28, 2015
Miami PD saw surveillance footage of Puig punching the bouncer, but no footage of the bouncer punching Puig. (2/2)
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 28, 2015
Though obviously another concerning incident in a series off-field troubles for Puig, it doesn't carry the seriousness it appeared to when the alleged physical altercation with his sister was reported. That report prompted Major League Baseball to plan its own investigation into Puig's incident under its new domestic violence policy, which took the possible fallout to an entirely new level.
Puig would be the second player to be investigated under the new policy. Jose Reyes of the Colorado Rockies was charged with domestic abuse in Hawaii earlier this month. He has since pleaded not guilty. The status of Puig's investigation has not been officially updated, but it is expected to go forward. Based on the new information coming directly from the Miami PD though, that figures to go in Puig's favor as well.
[Elsewhere: Athletics' Sean Doolittle hosted 17 Syrian refugee families for Thanksgiving]
As for the Dodgers, they've declined to comment on the latest incident involving Puig. One can imagine their frustration must be growing. Puig's antics have reportedly rubbed teammates the wrong way in the past, and most of that is just based on Puig's behavior around the team and in the clubhouse. This will only serve as another log on the fire. A fire that could ultimately fuel the Dodgers' desire to move on and trade Puig during the offseason.
Time will tell, but the many layers of the Yasiel Puig story won't be going away anytime soon.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
- - - - - - -
Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813