Former NFL cornerback Dimitri Patterson facing felony child abuse charge

Former NFL cornerback Dimitri Patterson is facing a charge of felony child abuse stemming from an Aug. 1 altercation at a South Florida shopping mall, according to police and court records obtained by ESPN.com.

Patterson, who was released by the New York Jets last season after going AWOL, was meeting his ex-girlfriend regarding a custody exchange of their one-year-old son when an argument ensued over child support payments, a report conducted by the Aventura Police Department states.

The woman, 28-year-old Erika Medina, told police that she began recording him during the alleged incident because he was "violent to her in the past" and was using "an aggressive tone."

While placing the child in the back seat of a vehicle, Medina told Patterson to calm down and warned him that he wouldn't be allowed to take the child with him.

Patterson then "grabbed her around her neck and threw her to the ground," according to the incident report. "While this occurred, (Medina) was holding (the boy). This action caused (him) to fall also and hit his head," according to the police report.

The child suffered a bruise to the back of the head in the alleged incident, while Medina suffered redness to her neck area and a cut on her left elbow.

Police said Patterson left the scene with his eight-year-old daughter and an eyewitness corroborated Medina's account of events with a statement.

In addition to the Jets, Patterson spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cleveland Browns during his 10-year NFL career. He worked out for the Detroit Lions in September 2014, but failed to land a contract.