Ex-Steelers Tight End Acquitted On Va. Obstruction Charge

A Virginia judge has acquitted former Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonathan Dekker on an obstruction of justice charge.

The charge stemmed from an incident in Alexandria's Old Town a week before Super Bowl XLIII, when the football player fled from police and then gave officers a false name.

A judge ruled Wednesday that Dekker's actions did not warrant the obstruction of justice charge. Dekker was facing up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Dekker ran from police Jan. 24 after an officer told the football player he was going to arrest him for being drunk in public.

Dekker has said he fled because he didn't want to distract his team by getting arrested just days before the Super Bowl.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Dekker played three games for the Steelers in 2007. He was signed by the Steelers in 2006 as a free agent from Princeton and spent that season on the practice squad.

Dekker had injured his knee in August and spent the season on injured reserve.