Falcons defensive lineman Ra’Shede Hageman was reluctant to discuss his pending domestic violence case in DeKalb County on Wednesday.
“It’s ongoing, so really I can’t really say anything about that,” Hageman said. “I don’t want to be a distraction for the team. I have to let my lawyers handle that situation.”
Hageman was involved in a domestic violence case in March and charged with three misdemeanors in DeKalb County.
From an incident with the mother of his child, Hageman was charged with interfering with a call for emergency help, battery family violence and cruelty to children in the third degree.
The case is still pending and no court dates have been set, per the Solicitor’s Office. Hageman, who turned 26 in August, is currently free on $7,500 bond.
When pressed about the situation, Hageman was not forthcoming.
“It’s an ongoing (legal) situation,” Hageman said. “I really can’t say much about the situation. Right now, I’m just focusing on my job.”
Hageman was the Falcons second round pick in the 2014 draft. He played in 32 games an made 11 starts before being declared inactive for the game on Sunday.
He’s trying to block out his dispute.
“I’m at work,” Hageman said. “When I’m at work, everything else goes out of the window. I’m with my team mates, my brothers so I’m just kind of staying focused and taking it one day at a time.”
Hageman wouldn’t say if he was disappointed to not play against Tampa Bay.
“I’m a team player,” Hageman said.
He wants to be active for this week’s game against Oakland on Sunday.
“The only thing I can trust is myself,” Hageman said. “I just have to practice the right way and get on the same page with (Dan Quinn). It was a different perspective (watching from the sideline). I was just trying to be there for my teammates, talking to them about what I see from a sideline standpoint.”
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