EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct last week, and has a pre-trial appearance scheduled for Dec. 9 in Hennepin County, according to court records.

Johnson was arrested on Oct. 5 outside a Minneapolis steakhouse after he allegedly refused to leave when the restaurant was closing. Police used pepper spray on Johnson inside the restaurant, according to a police report, and used a stun gun to subdue him before arresting him outside. His agent, Bardia Ghahremani, released a statement after Johnson's arrest saying the defensive tackle's behavior did not merit the level of force police used on him, and his attorney, David Valentini, said this month that Johnson was not in the wrong for taking a picture of the officer who sprayed him.

The defensive tackle has been a surprising pickup for the Vikings this season, posting four sacks while primarily being used as a pass-rusher in the team's nickel package.