Details emerge after former Buccaneers player arrested for battery

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman Demar Dotson is in legal trouble after being arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery.

NFC South insider Greg Auman reported on Friday that Dotson was arrested last week in Tampa after he was involved in a verbal altercation with an unidentified woman he was arguing with. He allegedly hit the woman twice.

The woman’s name has been redacted from all reports thanks to a Florida state law that protects victims in these sorts of cases

Dotson, however, was named as the suspect and faces up to a year in jail for the charge according to Florida law. Following his arrest, Dotson was released on bond but reportedly ordered by a judge to handover all firearms he owned for the duration of the investigation.

Dotson allegedly struck the victim with a closed fist so hard that it opened up a one-inch laceration On her face.

“Dotson slapped a woman in the face after a verbal argument escalated, according to the arrest report, and after she slapped him back, he hit her again with a closed fist, knocking her to the ground,” Auman reported. “Victim had a one-inch laceration on her face and a black eye, per the report.”

In Florida, misdemeanor battery carries a one-year jail sentence and/or a $1,000 fine.

Dotson spent 11 seasons with the Buccaneers after joining the team back in 2009 as an undrafted free agent. He slowly worked his way into the role of a starter, twice replacing struggling veterans. He moved into the role as Tampa Bay’s starting right tackle in 2013, replacing Jeremy Trueblood, and moved to left tackle a season later to replace Anthony Collins.

After being released following the 2019 season, Dotson played one more year in the NFL with the Denver Broncos before retiring.