Alabama's All-SEC safety Rashad Johnson charged with disorderly conduct

2/23/2008 1:32 PM

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -Alabama safety Rashad Johnson was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly knocking a security guard down at an off-campus bar early Saturday morning, Tuscaloosa police said.

Johnson was arrested at 2:55 a.m. at the Legacy bar on the strip near Alabama's campus, police spokesman Robert Fourt said in a statement Saturday. The 22-year-old Johnson was released on $500 bond shortly after being booked on the misdemeanor charge.

Officers had spotted a disturbance outside the bar, which was closing, Fourt said. Legacy security personnel were escorting someone from the bar when Johnson allegedly attempted to intervene and pushed one of the security officers, who fell out the door and onto the ground.

Johnson, a first-team All-Southeastern Conference pick, was arrested after a brief struggle, Fourt said. Additional officers from city and university police responded after a large crowd gathered, but no one else was arrested

A Tuscaloosa officer received a minor abrasion to his knee during the arrest, but did not require medical attention.

Johnson, a former walk-on, led the Crimson Tide with 94 tackles and six interceptions as a junior. He finished in a three-way tie for the SEC lead in interceptions. He was selected a captain by his teammates after the season.

It was the second arrest involving a Tide player in the past week. Defensive lineman Jeremy Elder was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery last Sunday night.