Ex-Falcon Anderson Still Facing Charges

There were new developments Thursday in the case of a former Atlanta Falcon who was arrested on drug charges in a Buckhead bar.

Former Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson has been charged with felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor marijuana possession after being arrested at an Atlanta nightclub.

Atlanta police spokesman Officer Otis Redmond said Anderson, 36, was arrested early Sunday at the Peachtree Tavern in Atlanta's trendy Buckhead district. Redmond said a second man, 20-year-old Mark Daniel Hudson, was also arrested.

The owner of the Peachtree Tavern said an employee heard a snorting sound coming from a stall in the men's room and alerted security. An off-duty Atlanta police officer said he found Anderson and Hudson in the stall doing cocaine off the back of the toilet.

The Fulton County district attorney said that charges against Hudson were later dropped, but the case against Anderson still remains strong.

The district attorney said the dropped charges against Hudson will not affect Anderson's case.

Investigators said they found three grams of cocaine and a marijuana cigarette on Anderson.

Anderson could be facing two to 15 years behind bars if he is convicted.

The investigation into the case is ongoing.

Anderson, a fan favorite who created the "Dirty Bird" touchdown celebration dance, played eight seasons for the Falcons before leaving the team with a knee injury in 2001.

Anderson helped lead the Falcons to their first NFC title in 1998, when he rushed for 1,846 yards and set an NFL record for carries in a season with 410. It was his only Pro Bowl season. The Falcons lost to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl that season.

Anderson was drafted out of Utah by the Falcons in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL draft, No. 201 overall.