Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor has broken his silence after being arrested in Miami on charges of robbery and criminal mischief.
According to a Miami Beach Police arrest report, the 30-year-old Ultimate Fighting Championship star was taken into custody on March 11 and charged with two felonies after allegedly damaging and stealing a phone.
What Happened?
The document states, “The victim and the defendant were exiting the Fontainebleau Hotel and the victim attempted to take a picture of the defendant with his cellphone. The defendant slapped the victim’s phone out of his hand, causing it to fall to the floor.”McGregor then allegedly “stomped on the victim’s phone several times, damaging it.”
McGregor then grabbed the phone and left the area, the report said. Police later found McGregor at his local address.
McGregor then posted a $12,500 bond before he was released after spending just under four hours in police custody in Miami-Dade County.
McGregor Speaks Out
Late Monday evening, McGregor released his first statement following the arrest.“Patience in this world is a virtue I continue to work on,” McGregor wrote on Instagram. “I love my fans dearly. Thank you all.”
‘Full Cooperation’
Earlier his lawyers issued a statement saying McGregor would cooperate fully with the investigation.“Last evening Conor McGregor was involved in a minor altercation involving a cellphone that resulted in a call to law enforcement,” Samuel J. Rabin Jr., a Miami-based attorney representing McGregor, said in a statement. “Mr. McGregor appreciates the response of law enforcement and pledges his full cooperation.”
Monday’s incident is the second time in the past year where McGregor was taken into police custody and charged.
Last April, McGregor was arrested after attacking a bus filled with UFC fighters inside the Barclays Center in New York.
McGregor smashed a bus window with a dolly, injuring at least two fighters. He was arrested and faced multiple charges, including assault.
The Irish fighter later reached a plea agreement for one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.
UFC 229 Brawl Fallout
McGregor, who’s from Ireland, is the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion and one of the biggest draws in the MMA.He returned to UFC last fall to face Khabib Nurmagomedov after a hiatus during which he made his boxing debut, a loss to Floyd Mayweather.
After beating McGregor, the Russian fighter scaled the octagon fence and sparked a melee involving members of both fighters’ corners.
Nurmagomedov was fined $500,000 and suspended for nine months for the brawl.
McGregor was fined $50,000 and suspended for six months.
