Griffin, Samuel Settle Charges in Pittsburgh

Simple assault charges against Juan Samuel and Alfredo Griffin were dropped Monday when the Dodger players reached a monetary settlement with a Pittsburgh busboy they allegedly attacked in an incident at a Pittsburgh restaurant July 21.

Moments before their preliminary hearing by City Magistrate Edward Borkowski in Pittsburgh City Court, Samuel and Griffin agreed to pay busboy Wilson Sturgeon Jr. about $1,500. The parties also agreed to not sue.

The deal was approved by Bernard J. Kelly, assistant district attorney, who asked that the charges be dropped.

The charges stemmed from an early morning incident at Chauncy’s, a Pittsburgh restaurant-bar. After the Dodgers’ 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh on July 20, Griffin and Samuel allegedly accosted a male customer who was arguing with his female companion. Sturgeon intervened and was allegedly assaulted by Griffin and Samuel.

Sturgeon allegedly suffered head and back injuries, and Griffin missed a week of games with an eye injury. The club hoped to have charges dropped before the players were forced to appear in Pittsburgh, but Sturgeon’s attorney said the players made no effort toward settlement.

“It was kind of silly, all of them showing up here when we surely could have discussed something before,” said Arthur Bloom, attorney for Sturgeon, from his Pittsburgh office. “They even rented a Dodger blue van to drive the players to the courtroom and everything. They went to a lot of expense that could have been spared.”

Said Rex Gary, Samuel’s Philadelphia-based attorney: “We tried to meet with the other side, but we never could arrange anything. The main thing is, we finally talked it out and realized how absurd it was for this thing to go to a criminal proceeding. It was an unfortunate incident, but certainly not one that warranted criminal prosecution.”

Samuel and Griffin continued to Philadelphia Monday afternoon, where they will join the Dodgers for today’s series opener against the Phillies. Samuel has four hits in his last 29 at-bats and Griffin is batting .159 in his last 21 games.