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Jason Taylor's stabbing incident being charged as hate crime
By Alex Marvez and Marlene Naanes
Sun-Sentinel.com
Posted May 1 2006, 12:31 PM EDT
Dolphins defensive end/outside linebacker Jason Taylor suffered a minor stab wound Sunday night in a road-rage incident, according to Davie police.
Redmond Charles Burns of Davie was arrested on three charges, including aggravated battery/hate crime, after allegedly assaulting Taylor.
"My wife and I were the victims of an unfortunate incident last night but we are both fine," Taylor said Monday in a statement released by his charity foundation. "I truly appreciate everyone's concern."
Seth Levit, who is the Jason Taylor Foundation spokesman, said the cut Taylor suffered on his left forearm was so minor that he wasn't even wearing a bandage while playing in a golf tournament in Tampa on Monday morning to benefit the charity foundation of Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks.
Levit said Taylor and his wife Katina were driving home from church when the incident occurred. Katina Taylor is the sister of Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas.
According to a Davie police report, Taylor was driving south on Flamingo Road when he noticed a red pickup truck coming toward his car as it backed up eastbound across State Road 84's westbound lanes. Taylor honked at the truck and the two vehicles avoided a crash.
Taylor was then driving behind the truck, which was traveling at 10 miles per hour, when he tried to pass on the left. As Taylor passed, the truck intentionally swerved toward him, causing his car to run off the road.
The truck and Taylor's car stopped at Southwest 130th Avenue and Eighth Street. The report states an unidentified passenger in the truck then got out and banged on Taylor's car trunk.
Burns, who was driving the truck, also emerged and used racial obscenities and threatened to kill Taylor. The 5-11, 168-pound Burns then retrieved an unknown metal object from his truck and tried to stab the 6-6, 255-pound Taylor, the report said.
As he backed away from Burns, Taylor was cut on his left forearm.
Taylor drove after the truck, calling 911 in the process, after it fled but lost site of the vehicle inside a trailer park. Taylor later identified Burns from a photo lineup, leading to his apprehension at a trailer in the 13200 block of SW 7th Place.
During the arrest, Burns kicked and punched an officer and later kicked at a window in a police car until being pepper-sprayed by officers, the report said.
Besides the battery charge, the 24-year-old Burns also was arrested for resisting with and without violence. The truck passenger was not charged.
Taylor declined further comment on the incident.
In December 2003, Taylor was identified by the FBI as being one of six active or retired professional athletes to receive a hate letter threatening him with physical harm for being married to a white woman. An FBI spokesman said similar letters were sent to prominent black politicians, entertainers and business leaders in a two-year span.
Taylor, 31, is set to enter his 10th season with the Dolphins as one of the NFL's top defensive players. Taylor began his charity foundation in July 2004 with the focus on helping children in need with improved health care, education and quality of life.
Jason Taylor Stabbed
Jason Taylor Stabbed
Theres no stoppin' us, no holdin us back. This is the trick of our trade, this is exactly what we do best!
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