NFL player's actions toward police dog deemed not malicious
PITTSBURGH (AP) Pennsylvania authorities say Oakland Raiders linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong did not act maliciously when he confronted a police dog just before the start of a Nov. 8 game in Pittsburgh against the Steelers.
Investigators had been trying to determine whether the player's conduct constituted taunting of a police dog, a third-degree felony.
The sheriff's office has said the player lifted his shirt, beat his chest and barked at the explosive detection dog before telling a deputy to release the animal, which she did not.
Pittsburgh news outlets identified the player as Armstrong. He and the Raiders declined comment.
The sheriff and prosecutor have agreed the player's behavior was not a malicious act but still created an unnecessary security risk. The dog had to be taken out of service after the incident.
The district attorney plans to talk with authorities in California to determine the best response.
