PASCO, Wash. — A former minor league football player was evaluated by mental health professionals after police say he forced his way into a secured area at an airport and bit off the fingertip of an officer during a jail scuffle.

Michael Rayfield Hodges, 25, who played for the Tri-Cities Fever of arenafootball2, was being held in the Franklin County jail, where he met with a state psychologist Monday.

His planned appearances in Franklin County Superior Court were canceled Monday, in part because of security concerns.

"In order to have a mental status exam, he couldn't be medicated," prosecutor Steve Lowe told the Tri-City Herald, adding that Hodges may have to be medicated to make a court appearance.

Hodges is charged with third-degree assault for hitting a federal security officer Nov. 3 as he forced his way into the secured boarding area of the Tri-Cities Airport.

He bit off the fingertip of a corrections officer and repeatedly punched the face of another officer at the jail Friday as four corrections officers were taking him back to his cell after a visit with his father, according to court documents.

Hodges has not been charged in the jail scuffle.