USA TODAY Sports 12:59 p.m. EDT October 11, 2013
Adrian Peterson's 2-year-old son is in critical condition.(Photo: Kevin Hoffman, USA TODAY Sports)
[h=3]Story Highlights[/h]
A 2-year-old son of Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson is in critical condition in a Sioux Falls, S.D. hospital, the victim of alleged abuse.
Peterson's father Nelson confirmed Friday afternoon that the child is Adrian Peterson's. In a media briefing earlier Friday, Sioux Falls police declined to confirm if the child was the running back's son.
Joseph Robert Patterson, 27, has been charged with aggravated assault and aggravated assault on an infant in Lincoln County for harming a 2-year-old boy who was in his care.
The child was alone in Patterson's home at Platinum Valley Apartments, where he'd recently moved with his mother. Patterson called 911 to report a choking on Wednesday evening, but Lt. Blaine Larsen of the Sioux Falls Police Department said it became clear at the hospital that the boy's injuries were not accidental.
Peterson is expected to talk this afternoon after the Vikings practice in Minneapolis.
Court records show that Patterson has a son with another Sioux Falls woman, and also show that the mother had asked for protection orders twice, claiming he'd choked and punched her, threatened her with a knife and held her in the bedroom against her will.
The mother chose not to pursue permanent protection orders were ultimately were dropped voluntarily in 2010 and 2011.
In 2012, Patterson was charged with simple assault against the mother, however, and was ordered to undergo family violence training and to stay away from her until completing it.
Patterson's child lives with his mother, who declined to comment Friday morning when reached by The Argus Leader.
Another woman applied for a protection order against Patterson in 2004 in Jackson County, where he attended high school.
Patterson is scheduled to appear in court at 11:30 a.m. in Lincoln County.
Sean Jensen contributed to this report. Information from the Sioux Falls, S.D. Argus Leader, a Gannett news outlet, was included in this report.
PHOTOS: ADRIAN PETERSON'S CAREER
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Adrian Peterson's 2-year-old son is in critical condition.(Photo: Kevin Hoffman, USA TODAY Sports)
[h=3]Story Highlights[/h]
- Joseph Robert Patterson has been charged with aggravated assault and aggravated assault on an infant
- Child was alone in Patterson's home, where he moved with mother
- Adrian Peterson expected to talk after practice this afternoon
A 2-year-old son of Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson is in critical condition in a Sioux Falls, S.D. hospital, the victim of alleged abuse.
Peterson's father Nelson confirmed Friday afternoon that the child is Adrian Peterson's. In a media briefing earlier Friday, Sioux Falls police declined to confirm if the child was the running back's son.
Joseph Robert Patterson, 27, has been charged with aggravated assault and aggravated assault on an infant in Lincoln County for harming a 2-year-old boy who was in his care.
The child was alone in Patterson's home at Platinum Valley Apartments, where he'd recently moved with his mother. Patterson called 911 to report a choking on Wednesday evening, but Lt. Blaine Larsen of the Sioux Falls Police Department said it became clear at the hospital that the boy's injuries were not accidental.
Peterson is expected to talk this afternoon after the Vikings practice in Minneapolis.
Court records show that Patterson has a son with another Sioux Falls woman, and also show that the mother had asked for protection orders twice, claiming he'd choked and punched her, threatened her with a knife and held her in the bedroom against her will.
The mother chose not to pursue permanent protection orders were ultimately were dropped voluntarily in 2010 and 2011.
In 2012, Patterson was charged with simple assault against the mother, however, and was ordered to undergo family violence training and to stay away from her until completing it.
Patterson's child lives with his mother, who declined to comment Friday morning when reached by The Argus Leader.
Another woman applied for a protection order against Patterson in 2004 in Jackson County, where he attended high school.
Patterson is scheduled to appear in court at 11:30 a.m. in Lincoln County.
Sean Jensen contributed to this report. Information from the Sioux Falls, S.D. Argus Leader, a Gannett news outlet, was included in this report.
PHOTOS: ADRIAN PETERSON'S CAREER
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Show Thumbnails
Show Captions
Last SlideNext Slide