The short version
- Hobart/Lawrence Police released records showing three women reported separate abuse incidents involving Josh Jacobs to authorities following his May arrest.
- Jacobs pleaded no contest in September to misdemeanor battery and property damage charges stemming from a specific altercation, while his legal team dismisses the new allegations as uncorroborated.
- The NFL continues its investigation into the player’s conduct, which could result in further disciplinary action beyond the commissioner’s exempt list placement that caused him to miss six games.
Newly released police records from the Hobart/Lawrence Police Department provide additional context regarding the off-field legal troubles of Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs. The documents, obtained through a public records request and first reported by NBC 26, reveal that three women contacted law enforcement to detail their own allegations against the player after he was arrested in May for an altercation with his then-girlfriend. These accounts were included as evidence in the battery case that led to Jacobs’ plea agreement earlier this year.
The records outline distinct incidents alleged to have occurred between 2021 and 2023, a period when Jacobs played for the Las Vegas Raiders before joining Green Bay in 2024. One woman described an encounter in January 2022 where she claimed Jacobs became angry after she declined sexual advances. According to her statement, he slapped her, threw her phone into a swimming pool, grabbed her by the hair, and threatened to kill her. She stated she did not report the incident at the time because she remained friends with Jacobs and feared her claims would not be believed.
Another account involves an incident from April 2021. The woman alleged that after a condom broke during intercourse, she asked Jacobs to get tested for sexually transmitted infections. She claimed he subsequently removed her from his residence, grabbed her arms, pushed her against a wall, and threw her belongings out. While she reported sustaining bruises and swelling, police records indicate that officers observed no visible signs of injury or damage consistent with a physical altercation during their investigation of that specific event.
A third woman described an altercation in May 2022 after Jacobs flew her to a residence. She alleged he grabbed her by the hair, placed his hands on her head and neck, dragged her, and scratched her chest. She also claimed he took her phone after it fell to the floor. This woman stated she did not report the incident immediately because she was not a U.S. citizen at the time and Jacobs allegedly told her she could be deported if she spoke out.
The release of these records comes months after Jacobs pleaded no contest on September 10 to misdemeanor counts of battery and criminal damage to property. The charges stemmed from a May 23 incident in which a woman alleged Jacobs grabbed her and threw her to the ground as she attempted to exit through a garage door, causing her to hit her head. Police also stated he took her phone during that altercation. Jacobs was arrested three days after the incident occurred.
Jacobs’ legal team, including attorneys David Z Chesnoff, Richard A Schonfeld, and Clarence F Duchac III, issued a statement addressing the newly public allegations. They characterized the claims as uncorroborated, old, and previously unreported. The lawyers noted that the Brown County District Attorney’s office had access to these allegations for months during their own exhaustive investigation alongside the police department. The prosecution ultimately determined that only two misdemeanor charges were warranted, leading to the plea agreement Jacobs is currently honoring.
The NFL placed Jacobs on the commissioner’s exempt list in August after charges were filed, causing him to miss the Packers’ first six games of the season. The league has stated it is still investigating the incident that led to his May arrest. It remains unclear how these additional allegations will factor into the league’s ongoing review or whether they will result in further discipline beyond the initial suspension.
Jacobs returned to play two weeks ago, scoring twice in a Thursday night victory over the Carolina Panthers. His celebration of one touchdown, which involved briefly placing his hands behind his back, drew immediate backlash from viewers given the context of his arrest. Jacobs stated he was modeling the gesture after a gospel song titled Break Every Chain. The team and league now face scrutiny as these historical allegations become part of the public record.
The timing of the police records release adds complexity to the narrative surrounding Jacobs’ conduct. While his legal case has been resolved through a plea deal, the NFL’s independent investigation continues. The league must weigh the severity of the original incident against these new accounts, which range from alleged physical aggression to threats and intimidation. The outcome of this review could impact Jacobs’ future with the Packers and set precedents for how the league handles off-field misconduct involving multiple unproven allegations.
As the season progresses, attention remains fixed on how the NFL will proceed. The records do not indicate that charges were filed against Jacobs for these specific past incidents, but they provide a broader picture of behavior that law enforcement and league officials are now reviewing. The intersection of legal resolutions and league discipline continues to be a focal point for fans, media, and the organization as they navigate the aftermath of these disclosures.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗Packers’ Josh Jacobs faces fresh abuse allegations from three women in police records
