Packers Barnett in trouble after nightclub incident

The fourth-year veteran was arrested Sunday morning in Appleton on battery charges and posted $500 bond. He was not at practice on Monday or available for comment.

The Packers are not only upset about the incident, they are concerned about the consequences. On the day that Barnett signed his six-year, $34.85 million contract extension with the Packers on April 10, National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell disclosed his new, tougher conduct policy.

So now Barnett will have to wait for his case to go through the Outagamie County court and see whether he faces additional punishment from the NFL for conduct detrimental to the league's image.

"Obviously we're not looking for our players or any employee of the Green Bay Packers to be involved in that type of situation," coach Mike McCarthy said.

Though the police report was not yet available Monday, more details have emerged from the incident at the Wet nightclub on College Ave. According to Appleton police Sgt. Pat DeWall, two foot patrol officers on duty at 2 a.m. Sunday came upon two people arguing outside the club. One was Barnett but the other has not yet been identified. There, the police uncovered another incident involving Barnett.

"The officers had learned that earlier a disturbance had occurred inside where Mr. Barnett had pushed down a female inside the bar," DeWall said. "Based upon that information, some witnesses and information we obtained from the victim, we arrested him for battery."

The confrontation created a stir in the entertainment district of Appleton, so about a dozen officers arrived at the scene to control the crowd.

Initially, Appleton police said they thought Barnett was arguing with the club's owner. But the owner, Kathy Peotter, denied that, saying she was working and bartending when she saw Barnett exit Wet. It is not clear with whom Barnett was arguing outside the club, but Peotter said Barnett looked unhappy when he left.

Peotter said several Packers were at her club Thursday, Friday and Saturday and she knew Barnett somewhat.

"He's always been a gentleman. I've never seen him drunk or crazy," Peotter said.
Barnett was placed in Outagamie County Jail, where he posted bond about an hour later and was released.

Read more here from Lori Nickel's article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=621198