"BEEF" CONTINUES TO GO WRONG...Henry charged with assault

Henry charged with assault
BY EILEEN KELLEY AND MARK CURNUTTE

Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, suspended by the NFL for eight games last year for personal misconduct, is scheduled to be in court today on assault and criminal damaging charges.

Warrants were issued for Henry's arrest Wednesday. Cincinnati Assistant Police Chief James Whalen said late Wednesday authorities were negotiating with Henry's lawyers to arrange his surrender to authorities.

Henry, 24, arrived at the Hamilton County Justice Center about midnight and was booked. He will be in Hamilton County Municipal Court at 12:30 p.m. today for an initial appeareance on the charges.

Henry, of Florence, is accused of punching a man in the head and throwing a beer bottle at the man's car Monday in Clifton Heights.

Henry is accused of leaving a visible gash in the head of Gregory Meyer. Court records say Meyer and other eyewitnesses identified Henry as the attacker. They say the beer bottle they accuse Henry of throwing at Meyer's 2002 Honda broke the passenger-side window.

A message seeking comment was left late Wednesday for Henry's attorney, Robert Lotz.
Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said the team is aware of the charges but declined comment.
The player's agent, Marvin Frazier, said Henry gave him a different version of events but declined to elaborate.

"I was told it didn't happen that way," Frazier said.

Meyer filed a motion for a temporary protection order in Hamilton County Municipal Court Wednesday, but that has not been ruled on.

The assault and criminal damaging charges are both misdemeanors.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Henry in April 2007 without pay for the first half of the season. Goodell suspended Henry for two games the year before for repeated off-field problems.

Henry was arrested four times between December 2005 and June 2006.
Jennifer Baker and The Associated Press contributed