Dwight Howard Not Charged with Child Abuse: Latest Details and Comments
Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard will not be charged with child abuse following a police investigation into claims he hit his six-year-old son with a belt, Atlanta police announced Monday.
"I can confirm we are not moving forward with charges in this case," Sgt. Gregory Lyon said in an email to Marc Berman of Fox 26 Sports.
Howard, 29, has been under investigation since November after police in Cobb County, Georgia, reopened an investigation that originated in Florida. The All-Star's ex-girlfriend turned Howard into Orlando police last August, alleging Howard beat their son with a belt.
While child services in Florida investigated and cleared Howard, Cobb County police reopened the case when it was determined the alleged attack happened in Atlanta.
"We are gratified that the Atlanta Police Department, after fully examining the frivolous allegations against Dwight Howard, has closed the case and decided not to proceed with charges," Howard's attorney, David Oscar Markus, said in a statement to Berman.
Howard, who has spent most of the season battling a lingering knee injury, is averaging 15.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in 2014-15. With the case behind him, it's unlikely the NBA will hand down any punishment.
Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.
