Key witness will clear Vikings lineman arrested at Miami nightclub, his lawyer says

A lawyer for Minnesota Vikings football player Olisaemeka “Oli” Udoh, who was arrested last weekend at a downtown Miami nightclub, said Wednesday that a key eyewitness will help clear the lineman’s name.

Miami police arrested Udoh, 25, on Saturday at the E11EVEN club, saying that a security guard reported he went into the women’s bathroom as he was talking to a female in line, then refused to leave. Miami police, in an arrest report, alleged that the 6-foot-6, 320-pound lineman “continued actively and physically resisting officers” as he was escorted out of the famous nightclub.

Defense lawyer Brian Bieber said Udoh “never followed a woman into the restroom and never prevented a woman from going anywhere.”

“I have personally verified that any allegation to the contrary is 100% false. In fact, the woman approached Oli that night and they had a cordial conversation, which ended in their exchanging phone numbers. She has since reached out to us and has confirmed the allegations are completely false,” Bieber said in a statement.

“Oli committed no crime whatsoever under Florida law, and we look forward to a speedy resolution of this case — one in which he never should have been arrested.”

Udoh is in his fourth year with the Vikings after being selected by the team in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Elon University. He became a starter in 2021, starting 16 of 17 games, but hasn’t started in any of the Vikings games so far this season.

He is charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence, both misdemeanors.

Udoh has already pleaded not guilty. No court hearing date has been set. Ultimately, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office will decide whether to proceed with charges.

This story was originally published October 26, 2022 at 12:44 PM.