Marshawn Lynch accused of stealing $20
Police officer's wife says running back threatened a friend
by Lou Michel
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch took $20 from a Southtowns woman at a Hamburg restaurant last month, according to information received by The Buffalo News.
The woman's husband, Buffalo Police Sgt. William Crawford, filed a complaint with Hamburg police a day after the incident, but they delayed giving a statement to detectives until Wednesday, in part because she wanted to wait until the Bills' football season ended and Lynch was out of town.
"She's terrified of him. He threatened her girlfriend who tried to retrieve the money after he robbed my wife," Crawford said. "He thinks he's above the law because of his status as an athlete."
The incident occurred Dec. 7, at the TGI Friday's at McKinley Mall, where the detective sergeant's wife and her girlfriend had stopped before heading home.
After hearing what happened, Crawford said he went the next day to the Hamburg Police Department and filed a complaint against Lynch.
Hamburg police declined to comment but confirmed that Crawford made a complaint.
Crawford asked that his wife's name be withheld because she and her girlfriend are frightened of retribution from Lynch.
Crawford said his wife's girlfriend was approached at the restaurant by another member of the Buffalo Bills, who struck up a conversation with the unmarried woman. At some point, Lynch arrived at the restaurant and joined them.
When the woman's girlfriend stepped away from the table, Crawford said his wife pulled out a $20 bill to pay their check in preparation for leaving.
Lynch, 23, of Hamburg, then grabbed the money from her hand.
"He takes the $20 out of her hand, and my wife says "What are you doing?' and Lynch says "Don't worry.' When my wife's girlfriend came back to the table, she told her about it. The girlfriend approached Lynch and said, "Give my friend her money back,' and Lynch threatened her saying "Do you know who I am? There's going to be consequences.' MORE...
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