Star cornerback and NFL free agent Richard Sherman remained in King County, Washington, lockup Wednesday, held on an early-morning arrest on burglary domestic violence, resisting arrest, and malicious mischief. The victims in the alleged altercation were Sherman’s in-laws, per police.
Sherman is also under investigation for DUI after his abandoned car with extensive drivers-side damage was located by authorities at another location overnight.
Richard Sherman, VP of the NFLPA executive committee, arrested in Washington
The incident is being investigated as a felony. Sherman is being held without bail until at least Thursday’s initial court appearance.
The five-time All-Pro, who is currently a free agent, has two children with his wife, Ashley Moss.
Here’s how authorities described how the incident unfolded in a statement and a subsequent police briefing:
Redmond police responded to a distress call around 2 AM PT of an adult male, whom cops say they later identified as Sherman, attempting to force his way into the home of his wife’s parents. When police arrived, Sherman, whom cops said had alcohol on his breath, fought with them before fleeing. A K9 assisted in the eventual arrest.
According to Redmond police accounts, “troopers with the Washington State Patrol were also on-scene investigating a hit and run incident. The individual is suspected of leaving his severely damaged vehicle and fleeing on foot after striking a cement barrier to a State Road 520 off-ramp prior to him arriving at the residence.”
Police also say that prior to the distress call, they had been alerted by King County’s Sheriff’s Office that Sherman might be on his way to Redmond.
“At this time we’re going to make no statements, except he didn’t harm anybody,” Moss told the Seattle Times. “My kids were not harmed in the incident. He’s a good person and this is not his character. We’re doing all right, just trying to get him out. I want people to know no one was injured.”
The arrest assuredly complicates, if not ends, Sherman’s attempt to return to the NFL in 2021
ESPN reported recently that Sherman was eyeing a return to Seattle. Sherman spent the first seven years of his career and won a Super Bowl in 2013. A member of the 2010s All-Decade Team and a five-time Pro Bowler, Sherman spent the past three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
He turned 33 in March.
The NFL told The Washington Post that “free agents are eligible to sign with any team. The league investigates any incident involving law enforcement and if there is a violation of the personal conduct policy the player would be facing discipline.”
The NFLPA late Wednesday morning released the following statement:
“We were made aware of an arrest last night of one of our player leaders for an alleged domestic violence incident and have activated our domestic violence crisis protocol for the protection and support of everyone involved. We will continue to monitor events closely as more facts are made available to us.”
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