Published: May 13, 2008 09:31 pm            

BILLS: Rookie WR Hardy allegedly brandishes gun

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A woman called police saying Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver James Hardy was beating up his father and had pulled a gun when she yelled for him to stop.

The witness told officers she called out for Hardy to stop after hearing a loud noise in the back yard about 1:30 p.m. Sunday, according to a city police report.

Fort Wayne police spokesman Michael Joyner said Tuesday no charges were filed because Hardy was gone when officers arrived and Hardy’s father did not want to press charges.

The police report quoted the elder Hardy as saying his son has a lot of anger toward him because he was in prison when his son was young.

Neither Hardy nor his agent, Eugene Parker, immediately responded to phone messages seeking comment.

The Buffalo Bills released a statement Tuesday in response to a published report in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.

The team statement confirmed that the Bills have spoken with Hardy about the alleged incident, in which Hardy was accused of brandishing a licensed firearm. The statement reads as follows.

“We have spoken to law enforcement officials and they have informed us that they looked into this and have no plans to pursue the matter any further. We also spoke to James last night and will continue to speak with him today, but indications are that this matter has been resolved.”

The 6-foot-6 receiver left Indiana a year early to enter the NFL draft and was picked by the Bills in the second round last month.

        

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