A fight outside a popular Pacific Beach bar ended with one man in his 20s injured and laying in the middle of the street and a San Diego Chargers player reported to be among those involved in the brawl.
Officers arrived to a parking lot near Bar West at Cass and Hornblend Streets around 2:15 a.m. Monday after reports of a large fight involving several men.
Officers found one man unconscious. "The man didn’t regain consciousness the entire time officers were with him and he was transported to the hospital by paramedics," said San Diego Lt. Todd Jarvis.
The victim has not been identified.
A witness called police and reported that San Diego Chargers player Legedu Naanee was among the suspects. However, police investigators said there are conflicting reports about who was there and the involvement of those people.
San Diego police investigators say they have talked to the San Diego Chargers and have told the team that they would like to talk with one Chargers player.They hope to interview that player Tuesday.
Naanee is denying any participation in the fight. Late Monday, the Charger said he was at the bar and left about 2 a.m.
"I don't know how my name came up in it, but I was there, I didn't see the fight," Naanee said.
Naanee said he was at Barwest with a group of his friends. He also said other Chargers players were there too, but he wouldn't say who they were.
At the Chargers routine Monday news conference, Chargers head coach Norv Turner was asked about the allegations surrounding Naanee. Turner said he was aware of the reports but could not discuss the issue.
“I have heard about it probably like you have. I have no information,” Turner said. “As soon as we have information about it we’ll have a comment.”
“I don’t know anything about it, I hadn’t heard about it. I’d be out of line to comment on it,” Chargers QB Philip Rivers said when asked about the allegations.
“Certainly it’s important to us, and we all know how important it is, to stay out of trouble and do the right thing,” he said. “It would be unfortunate, whatever does come out, if it is indeed something major, but hopefully everything will be alright.”
Chargers spokesperson Bill Johnston confirmed that the team is aware of the allegations connecting Naanee to the fight and that they are gathering information but could not give any other details as of Monday 1:30 p.m.
