Animal cruelty charge against Falcons DT Babineaux dropped

Nov 7, 2007 - 10:33 PM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux had a felony animal cruelty charge against him dropped Wednesday.

Danny Porter, the Gwinnett County District Attorney, said his office conducted a thorough investigation after police charged Babineaux with killing his girlfriend's pit bull in February.

"I'm just happy the whole situation is over with," Babineaux said. "It's been a long process. I've been waiting it out and it's finally over ... The main thing is my name is cleared from the whole ordeal."

Had Babineaux been indicted, he likely would have faced a suspension.

Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was suspended indefinitely by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after pleading guilty to federal dogfighting charges in August.

Pat McDonough, one of Babineaux's lawyers, said Wednesday's ruling proved that his client was acting in self defense to protect himself and his 5-month-old child from the aggressive dog.

"The dog was coming at him aggressively and his infant was behind him," McDonough told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.