A big win, a celebration in a PB bar, a champagne bottle, a police probe.
Several San Diego Chargers were at Bar West in Pacific Beach, celebrating the Bolts 32-3 win over Denver when a fight broke out and a customer was hit in the head with a champagne bottle a little after 1 a.m., according to investigators. On Monday, police said star cornerback Antonio Cromartie was listed as a suspect in the case. No arrests were made after the incident, but the investigation has not been completed, authorities said. Police have not released the identities of any other players who were at Bar West on Sunday.
A San Diego police spokesman said a witness claimed Cromartie threw a champagne bottle but Cromartie said it slipped from his hand. A man suffered a cut to the back of his head but nobody was hospitalized or arrested. Cromartie is under investigation for assault with a deadly weapon, according to SDPD detective Gary Hassen.
On Monday, Cromartie was tweeting, a well-publicized -- and expensive --habit of his.
"I want to apologize to charger nation and my fans," wrote Cromartie, whose Twitter user name is crimetime31. "There's sum stuff out abt me that's not true. It will come out. God Bless."
Fan response was quick:
@SonnyPhono: "next time just party @shawnemerriman's house... On second thought...."
@twittingtita: "we got your back baby!!! If @shawnemerriman is forgiven for hanging with Tila...you're all G"
@Josh_MKB24: ""Even if it was u, heard it was pretty far, so u shd tell management u want a raise cuz now u can be the backup QB! hang in ther"
@ed_moscoso: "I'm sure the truth will come...but why put yourself in that situation to start. bad judgement, and now there's a media frenzy."
@gixug: "Rock on, Cro. The truth shall set you free, right?"
@ebiltlindas" "Word. You had a great game man, but let's save the champagne for the true victory!"
@Timberlake21: "There's probably a reason your Twitter name is CrimeTime... Don't you know, nothing good happens at 1:15AM!"
In August, Cromartie was fined $2,500 by the Chargers after a post about the food the Chargers were serving during training camp. The offending tweet apparently equated the food quality with the Chargers' failure to reach the Super Bowl in recent seasons.
Cromartie is a former Pro Bowler who the Chargers, on a roll after their fifth straight win after being left for dead by the critics -- signed in 2006 out of Florida State. This season, Cromartie has made three interceptions -- including one on Sunday against Denver -- and 20 tackles.
A Chargers spokesman said the team had no comment yet but that the team is aware of the story and is looking into it.
