Former Broncos outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite is no longer facing misdemeanor charges for allegedly punching a Denver Police officer in 2024 at Denver International Airport, but the officer is still suing him over the incident.
The misdemeanor case was dropped June 4, Wilhoite’s attorney, Harvey Steinberg, confirmed to The Denver Post on Monday.
Wilhoite was originally charged with felony assault for allegedly punching the officer in the face in the dropoff lane at the airport in February 2024, telling the officer to “shut the (expletive) up” multiple times and driving away from the scene after the officer Tased him.
The felony assault charge against Wilhoite was downgraded to a misdemeanor in September and now itap been dropped altogether.
Wilhoite was fired by the Broncos in May 2025.
The civil suit, filed in February by the police officer, Jesus Galvan Chavez, recounts the encounter with Wilhoite at the airport and claims Chavez was verbally and physically intimidated and threatened, assaulted, “including trauma and damage to (his) jaw, hip and left lower and upper extremities.”
It also claims Chavez “suffered emotional, psychological, and physical injuries including bodily pain and discomfort” along with “losses and damages, including past and future medical expenses, past and future lost earnings, physical impairment, disfigurement, past and future pain and suffering” and emotional distress.
Wilhoite responded to the suit in April, acknowledging the two had an encounter at the airport and that he was eventually arrested but denying all of the substantial allegations made by Chavez in the civil suit.
The civil case is set to go to a jury trial in March. According to a late April court filing, lawyers for Chavez and Wilhoite have talked about a potential settlement and the parties agreed to conduct mediation before Dec. 22.
