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Alex Scarborough, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Woman arrested for filing false report

College Football, Alabama Crimson Tide

The woman who accused former Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Taylor of assault this past weekend has since recanted her statement to police and was subsequently arrested for giving a false report, according to authorities.

Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit assistant commander Kip Hart said the 24-year-old woman, whose identity is being withheld, approached investigators and provided a written statement saying she fabricated the story.

According to a news release from police, the woman recanted her previous statement that "she and Taylor had been in a verbal dispute that turned physical" and he had "caused injuries to her neck and damaged property in her apartment."

"On March 30th, 2015, the female contacted investigators and stated that she wanted to recant her statements about the previous domestic violence incidents and that Taylor did not harm her," the statement read. "The female was [further] interviewed on March 31st, 2015 and maintained that she had lied about the previous incidents. Based on her statements that she had fabricated the stories investigators charged the female with False Reporting to Law Enforcement."

Taylor, 21, was dismissed following his arrest. Coach Nick Saban told reporters on Monday that Taylor had completed psychological counseling and profiling as part of his enrollment at Alabama in January.

"We're scratching the surface of what's going on," Hart said when reached by telephone.

Based on the "visible marks to her" and the "damage that was observed" at the residence, Hart said there was sufficient evidence for the initial charges against Taylor. But with the woman's statement now in doubt, the charges against Taylor are being reviewed.

Hart said the investigation is ongoing.

Hart, who said his unit deals with several thousand domestic violence cases a year, said victims "frequently" recant their statements.

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