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US football star arrested for barking at dog

An American football star has been arrested … for barking at a police dog.

Florida Gators linebacker Antonio Morrison, who was already in trouble after being arrested in June, claimed in his defence that the police dog barked at him first. He will miss at least the first two games of the season after being suspended from the team.

According to an Alachua County Sheriff Office's report, police responded to a call in the early hours of Sunday and while attending an incident a man approached the patrol car and began barking at his police dog through the open window. The report said that caused the dog, named Bear, to bark back at the man, which the officer said diverted his attention from his investigations.

The report says the officer told the man - later identified as Morrison - to wait in front of his patrol car and the man resisted when he tried to handcuff him. Two other officers arrived and helped detain Morrison, according to the report.

"I'm extremely disappointed in Antonio Morrison's decision making," Florida coach Will Muschamp said in a statement. "He has been suspended from the team and will miss at least two games to begin the season."

Morrison, who was expected to be the Gators' starting middle linebacker this season, told the officers he barked at the dog because the dog barked at him first.

Muschamp had previously said he hadn't decided whether to suspend Morrison as a result of a June 16 arrest for battery after he punched a nightclub bouncer because he was not given a discounted rate for admission. Muschamp said last Tuesday that Morrison was being punished inside the program for that transgression.

This article was compiled using material from ESPN.com/Michael DiRocco/ GatorNation

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