MIAMI – Two officers were injured Tuesday when a former Miami Dolphins cornerback tried to escape from a courtroom at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center in downtown Miami, authorities said.
Miami-Dade police spokeswoman Jennifer Capote said Dimitri Patterson, 34, was appearing in family court in the courthouse at 175 NW First Ave. when Judge William Altfield told him that he would be going to jail.
Authorities said Patterson tried to escape from courtroom 2A and tackled a female officer.
The officer struck her head and was taken to a hospital. Her condition has not been released.
Capote said another officer suffered minor injuries during the attempted escape.
No other details were immediately released by authorities about why Patterson was in family court.
Patterson played for the Dolphins during the 2013 season and was tied for the team lead with four interceptions.
According to an arrest report, Patterson was arrested after an incident with his child's mother on Aug. 1, 2015, at the Aventura Mall.
File: Dimitri Patterson arrest report
The report stated that Patterson met with his ex-girlfriend for a custody exchange of their then-1-year-old son and an argument ensued over child support payments.
Police said that the baby suffered a bruise to the back of his head.
Authorities said the ex-girlfriend, Erika Medina, suffered redness to her neck area and a cut to her left elbow.
Patterson was arrested on charges of felony child abuse and misdemeanor battery.
Records show that Patterson was previously acquitted by a jury on charges of misdemeanor battery and culpable negligence.
Patterson, who was was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2005, also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets.