Police in North Providence, Rhode Island, have released surveillance video showing a confrontation at a local gym involving former New England Patriots fullback Patrick Pass.
The footage was made public following court proceedings that allowed Pass to enter a diversion program, a decision that local officials have publicly criticized.
The incident occurred at a Planet Fitness gym in September 2024. According to police, the video shows Pass pushing an 82-year-old man during a verbal dispute.
The shove caused the elderly man to fall backward into exercise equipment, resulting in a back injury.
Pass, a three-time Super Bowl champion who played with the Patriots in the early 2000s, was arrested and charged with assault on a person over the age of 60 causing bodily injury, as well as disorderly conduct. He was later released on $10,000 bail.
During a recent court appearance, Pass was accepted into a diversion program. If he successfully completes the program’s requirements, the charges could be dismissed, allowing him to avoid a criminal conviction.
North Providence police officials say the decision prompted them to release the surveillance footage to provide transparency and allow the public to see what they describe as clear evidence of the incident.
Police Chief Alfredo Ruggiero Jr. stated that his department believed the case warranted prosecution and expressed concern over the outcome.
City officials echoed that frustration, emphasizing that incidents involving violence against elderly individuals should be treated with particular seriousness.
The release of the video, they said, was intended to reinforce that message.
Neither Pass nor his legal team has made a public statement in response to the video’s release.
The case has sparked discussion locally about accountability, diversion programs, and how the justice system handles cases involving public figures.