Bellator fighter Joe Vedepo arrested after allegedly assaulting, hospitalizing police officer

Bellator light heavyweight Joe Vedepo was arrested this past Friday afternoon after allegedly hospitalizing an Iowa City police officer during a drunken altercation outside of a sports bar.

According to a report from KCRG, officers responded around 2:22 p.m. to a call from Sports Column indicating that Vedepo, 31, was intoxicated and refused to leave the premises. Vedepo reportedly told officers that he “knew his rights” and resisted law efforts as he attempted to reenter the bar, ultimately head-butting one officer in the chest, sending him to the hospital with back injuries.

“Officers took Vedepo to the ground and attempted to handcuff him, but he rolled his body and kicked his legs,” the report went on to state. “Officers deployed a Taser in an attempt to subdue Vedepo, but it was ineffective, police said. According to criminal complaints, it took several officers to pull Vedepo’s hands behind his back.

“Police said Vedepo was placed in the back of one squad car, but needed to be transferred to another. After he was moved, he began to kick at officers and made contact with one of them, police said.”

Vedepo was found to have a blood-alcohol level of .241, over than three times the legal limit. He was arrested and remains booked on $10,000 bail in Johnson County Iowa Jail, where he is being charged with two counts of assault on peace officers, one count of assault causing injury to a peace officer, and one count of public intoxication.

A veteran of both the UFC and Bellator, Vedepo (17-9) suffered a lopsided and sustained defeat on short notice at the hands of Muhammed Lawal two weeks ago at Bellator 131, ultimately losing via third-round TKO to drop his Bellator record to 4-4.

Bellator light heavyweight Joe Vedepo was arrested this past Friday afternoon after allegedly hospitalizing an Iowa City police officer during a drunken altercation outside of a sports bar.

According to a report from KCRG, officers responded around 2:22 p.m. to a call from Sports Column indicating that Vedepo, 31, was intoxicated and refused to leave the premises. Vedepo reportedly told officers that he “knew his rights” and resisted law efforts as he attempted to reenter the bar, ultimately head-butting one officer in the chest, sending him to the hospital with back injuries.

“Officers took Vedepo to the ground and attempted to handcuff him, but he rolled his body and kicked his legs,” the report went on to state. “Officers deployed a Taser in an attempt to subdue Vedepo, but it was ineffective, police said. According to criminal complaints, it took several officers to pull Vedepo’s hands behind his back.

“Police said Vedepo was placed in the back of one squad car, but needed to be transferred to another. After he was moved, he began to kick at officers and made contact with one of them, police said.”

Vedepo was found to have a blood-alcohol level of .241, over than three times the legal limit. He was arrested and remains booked on $10,000 bail in Johnson County Iowa Jail, where he is being charged with two counts of assault on peace officers, one count of assault causing injury to a peace officer, and one count of public intoxication.

A veteran of both the UFC and Bellator, Vedepo (17-9) suffered a lopsided and sustained defeat on short notice at the hands of Muhammed Lawal two weeks ago at Bellator 131, ultimately losing via third-round TKO to drop his Bellator record to 4-4.