Accuser recants domestic abuse allegations against dismissed Alabama player

Dismissed Alabama football player Jonathan Taylor's mugshot
Dismissed Alabama football player Jonathan Taylor’s mugshot

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.–The victim in the arrest and charge of Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Taylor has recanted her accusations, per the Tuscaloosa Police Department.

The victim contacted investigators on March 30 and said she wished to recant her statements about the incident. She said that Taylor did not harm her, per a police press release. She was further interviewed on March 31, and it was found that she had lied about the incident. She was charged with “False Reporting to Law Enforcement,” placed in the county jail and released on bond, per a police press release.

Taylor was dismissed from the team Sunday after being arrested and charged for domestic violence third-degree assault and domestic violence third-degree criminal mischief on Saturday. This was Taylor’s second arrest and charge of domestic violence, as he still has a case pending in Georgia for a similar charge.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban on Monday defended giving Taylor a second chance at football, but after his arrest said, “the guy just can’t be on our football team.”

The charges against Taylor will be reviewed at a later date, per the police statement.

An Alabama spokesman told AL.com that it was unclear whether Taylor could rejoin the team.