Judge dismisses menacing charge against Bengals RB Joe Mixon

Feb. 3 (UPI) -- A Cincinnati judge dismissed a menacing charge against Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Mixon, who faced an arrest warrant for allegedly using a gun to threaten a woman, a court officer told UPI on Friday.

Andrew Gillen, the Hamilton County (Ohio) municipal court assistant court administrator, said judge Curt Kissinger signed off on prosecutors' motion for dismissal.

Prosecutors said that they requested the dismissal because they need "more information" before they could move forward with the case, according to WCPO 9 footage of Friday's courtroom session.

They also said the victim wants to "go forward with the charge" if prosecutors decide to refile it.

An arrest warrant was issued Thursday for the veteran running back on an aggravated menacing charge in connection to an incident in Cincinnati, court records show.

In her complaint, filed Thursday in Hamilton County (Ohio) municipal court, the woman said Mixon allegedly pointed a gun at her Jan. 21 in downtown Cincinnati. She also claimed Mixon allegedly said: "you should be popped in the face. I should shoot you."

Mixon was never arrested on the warrant. And Cincinnati police had to contact the victim before Kissinger would sign off on dismissing the charge to comply with Ohio law.

Mixon's agent, Peter Schaffer, said Thursday that he expected the charge to be dropped. The Bengals said they were "aware" it.

"It was a rush to judgement," Schaffer said in a statement. "They're dropping the charges first thing [Friday] morning.

"I really feel that police have an obligation before they file charges -- because of the damage that can be done to the person's reputation -- to do their work. They should be held to a higher standard. Because I don't play with people's lives."

The incident occurred one day before the Bengals beat the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs.

"The club is aware misdemeanor charges have been raised against Joe Mixon," the Bengals said. "The club is investigating the situation and will not comment further at this time."

Mixon also was charged with misdemeanor assault for punching a woman during a 2014 incident while he was running back at the University of Oklahoma. He entered a plea deal and was given a year of probation, and was suspended for one season.

He was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The 2020 Pro Bowl selection signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension in 2020.