Bengals’ Joe Mixon back in hot water after refiled misdemeanor charge

 Bengals running back Joe Mixon is still running away from his past. The latest news has him at the center of a reopened misdemeanor case.

On Friday, the Cincinnati Police Department refiled an aggravated menacing charge against Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon.

The second charge comes roughly two months after Mixon’s initial charge was dismissed in early February; at that time, Mixon was issued an arrest warrant for allegedly pointing a gun at a woman near the Bengals stadium. Mixon also told the woman, “You should be popped in the face. I should shoot you now. The police can’ get me.”

The Bengals star was accused of one count of aggravated menacing.

Mixon’s charge was ultimately dismissed less than 24 hours within the time it was filed. However, the police stated that they reserved the right to recharge Mixon in the event of any new information.

With the case now reopened, this is the statement the Cincinnati Police Department released today:

"This decision was reached following the discovery of new evidence during the investigative process. To preserve a fair and impartial judicial process for all parties involved, no investigatory details or evidence will be disclosed outside of official court proceedings."

The Bengals organization also released a statement stating that the team is aware of the first-degree misdemeanor charge and will refrain from further comment.

Bengals RB Joe Mixon’s misdemeanor case has been reopened

Will the Bengals inch closer to releasing their starting running back? The team would save up to $10 million against the 2023 cap if they choose to release Mixon this offseason, and that money could perhaps be put toward getting an extension done with quarterback Joe Burrow, among other star players.

The Bengals lost backup Samaje Perine to the Denver Broncos, so they would obviously need to do a deep dive in the running back market to find a relatively affordable and reliable ball-carrier to take Mixon’s snaps.

This isn’t the first time Mixon’s criminal behavior has appeared in the news: back in 2014, an 18-year-old Mixon was charged with misdemeanor assault for punching a woman in a bar and breaking bones in her face. He entered a plea deal and was given one year of probation.

His troubled history and recent dip in efficiency on the field could be enough for the Bengals to offload their 2017 second-round pick, though the franchise will likely wait for the legal proceedings to come to completion before making any drastic moves.