Allen cleared of battery charges in brawl

CHICAGO, April 25 (UPI) -- A Chicago judge has dismissed aggravated battery charges against Boston Celtics guard Tony Allen, who was involved in a brawl in 2005.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge James Linn made the ruling Tuesday after a two-day trial in which videotape of the Aug. 28, 2005, fight outside a restaurant played a prominent role in Allen's defense, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Part of the brawl included a man being shot, but Allen, 25, was not charged in connection with that.

The Boston Globe said Allen had been playing the best basketball of his career this past season until he badly injured ligaments in his left knee in a game against Indiana on Jan. 10.