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New Orleans police issue simple battery warrant for Odell Beckham Jr. after slapping officer on the butt

Odell Beckham Jr. is usually right when he says he gets too much attention for acting the way many professional athletes do.

But this week, the Cleveland Browns receiver has brought it all on himself.

On Thursday, New Orleans police issued a simple battery arrest warrant for Beckham for slapping a Superdome police officer on the butt in the locker room after LSU’s national championship win over Clemson.

Nola.com reported that the arena officer was telling LSU players in the locker room to put out their victory cigars because it was against building policy when he felt Beckham’s slap.

As the video below shows, Beckham came up behind the officer as he was talking to offensive lineman Damien Lewis and smacked him:

Beckham also quickly gets a look of fear on his face, as he almost immediately realizes he might be in trouble.

According to court records, the officer, a 48-year-old lieutenant, resisted the urge to punch Beckham in the moment, but called the New Orleans Police a little more than a day later to say he wanted to press charges.

In a sworn New Orleans Police statement filed in Criminal District Court, the stadium lieutenant said he was told to enforce the no smoking policy, and confronted some of the happy players who were lighting up after their championship victory.

The officer alleges that one player because “argumentative” at first but did comply with the request; it was after that exchange he felt someone slap him.

Odell Beckham Jr. is in more hot water after Monday night's BCS football championship. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Odell Beckham Jr. is in more hot water after Monday night's championship game. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

The New Orleans police officer investigating the incident initially sought a warrant for a misdemeanor sexual battery charge, but it was declined by a judge. It was rewritten as a count of simple battery, which was approved.

The Browns issued a statement saying, “We are aware of the incident and have been in touch with Odell and his representatives on the matter. They are cooperating with the proper authorities to appropriately address the situation.”

But that’s not the only thing the former LSU standout did on Monday night that raised eyebrows: he also is on video handing cash to players after their win, which has likely caused a mess for LSU’s NCAA compliance department.

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