World champion boxer Jermall Charlo turned himself into authorities on Wednesday after the court issued felony warrants for his arrest. But the middleweight “Hitman” may have been the victim of pushy police, according to attorney Kent A. Schaffer.
Detectives allege Charlo was unable to pay his tab at Privat Martini Bar & Social Club in San Antonio, Texas, and after his credit card was declined, the 31 year-old pugilist stole cash from another table’s check and then bolted for the door, assaulting a server in the process.
Schaffer vigorously defended his client in an Email to KSAT.com.
“When they ran his card it was declined and he then received a fraud alert from Chase Bank asking if he had made the charge. He responded ‘yes’ and they told him to have the charge submitted again. The waitress went to run it again and came back saying she could not find the card. Jermall was upset that his card was missing since it was a debit card tied to an account with a substantial amount of money.”
“The waitress had his license sticking out of a portfolio and he took his license back saying that he didn’t want her to lose that too. By this time, many club employees were gathering in the hallway so Jermall’s handlers wanted to get him out of the club before trouble started and a club employee walked Jermall out to his car. Hours later Jermall’s assistant made contact with the club to give them another credit card number but the club refused to accept it.
“Over the last few weeks we have talked to the police, prosecutors and the club owner and although the club owner expressed his desire to drop the charges the officer insisted on filing charges to try to embarrass Jermall. At no time did he rob anyone or take any property other than his own.”
Charlo, recently honored by the city of Houston, was booked at a satellite office at the Bexar County Courthouse and promptly released on bond. “Hitman” may have to reappear in court later this year, but it doesn’t sound like the air-tight case the warrants suggest.
As far as his boxing career is concerned, Charlo improved to 32-0 with 22 knockouts by dismantling Mexican bruiser Juan Macias Montiel last June in “The Lone Star State,” retaining his WBC middleweight title in the process.