D'Qwell Jackson
Indianapolis Colts linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (52) is shown after recovering a fumble and running it in a for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins at Lucas Oil Stadium. He has been charged with simple assault after an altercation on Tuesday in Washington D.C. Reuters/Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Indianapolis Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault in Washington D.C. Tuesday after an altercation over a parking spot, according to reports. Jackson, 31, recently gained national attention for his role in the Colts’ complaint against the New England Patriots that sparked the NFL’s “Deflategate” investigation into the air pressure of game balls used during the AFC Championship game on Jan. 18.

Jackson is accused of twice punching a 31-year-old pizza deliveryman in the head over a parking space, WJLA-TV in Washington reported. The deliveryman told Jackson he only planned to use the space briefly, but the Colts linebacker used an expletive and assaulted him, according to a police report. The NFL veteran was released from custody Tuesday night and will appear in court at an unspecified date to face the charges, ESPN reported. The Colts addressed Jackson’s arrest in a statement Wednesday. “The Indianapolis Colts have been made aware that D’Qwell Jackson was charged yesterday in DC with a count of simple assault. When the Club learns more of the surrounding facts, it will make an appropriate statement,” the team said, according to WTHR-TV in Indianapolis.

Jackson’s interception of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s pass in the second quarter of the AFC Championship purportedly served as the starting point of New England’s “Deflategate” scandal. Colts officials informed the game’s referees of suspicions that the Patriots’ game balls were inflated below league standards. Hours later, league officials found that 11 of the 12 game balls that the Patriots supplied for use during the game failed to meet the NFL’s pounds-per-square inch requirements. The NFL hired independent attorney Ted Wells to lead its investigation into the incident and has yet to make any determinations regarding potential wrongdoing.

Jackson led the Colts with 140 tackles during the 2014 NFL season. He also recorded four sacks and four fumble recoveries. He signed with Indianapolis before training camp after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Cleveland Browns.

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