Atlanta Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr. allegedly crashed his car into one being pushed by WNBA participant Rickea Jackson a number of occasions and struck a police officer with the car whereas evading arrest, in line with the legal criticism obtained by ESPN from the Miami-Dade County state lawyer’s workplace.
Pearce was arrested Saturday in Florida on 5 felony fees, together with aggravated battery with a lethal weapon, aggravated stalking and aggravated battery of a regulation enforcement officer. He was launched from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Heart on Sunday evening after posting a $20,500 bond.
Jackson, who performs for the Los Angeles Sparks, instructed police that she noticed Pearce following her automotive in a white Lamborghini SUV on Saturday morning. When Jackson’s automotive stopped at a pink mild, Pearce bought out of his car and tried to open her automotive door on the driving force’s facet.
Jackson accelerated away and began driving towards the Doral (Florida) Police Division. Pearce reentered his car and continued following her. In the course of the drive to the police station, Jackson mentioned Pearce “deliberately collided into the rear of her car” together with his SUV. As she bought to the intersection close to the police station, Jackson mentioned Pearce reduce her off together with his automotive and when she tried to again out and get away, he used his automotive to collide with hers head-on.
The affidavit acknowledged that pictures of Jackson’s car confirmed harm constant along with her account.
Doral law enforcement officials responded to the scene after Jackson referred to as. In response to the affidavit, they noticed Pearce standing on the surface of his SUV on the driving force’s facet with the door open. An officer pulled a gun on Pearce and ordered him to get on the ground. Pearce bought again in his automotive and closed the door. The officer opened the door, however Pearce shut it once more, locked it and drove away.
Whereas Pearce was driving away, the SUV struck an officer in his left knee. The affidavit describes it as “deliberately in an try and evade arrest.”
Police adopted Pearce’s car in automobiles till Pearce crashed at an intersection. Pearce then bought out of his automotive and fled on foot. Officers had been in a position to meet up with him, although Pearce “started to withstand arrest by tensing his arms and never permitting officers to apprehend him.”
The affidavit says Pearce was “triaged on scene” and later taken to Jackson West Medical Heart for additional evaluation. He spent Saturday evening and many of the day Sunday in custody at Turner Guilford Knight Corrections Heart.
Pearce is dealing with two felony counts of aggravated battery with a lethal weapon and a felony rely of aggravated stalking. Different fees embrace fleeing and eluding law enforcement officials and aggravated battery of a regulation enforcement officer — additionally felonies — and a misdemeanor rely of resisting an officer with out violence to his particular person.
“We sit up for working with the State Legal professional’s Workplace in absolutely investigating this case and uncovering the reality,” Pearce’s authorized staff Jacob Nunez, Yale Sanford and Joshua Cohen mentioned in a press release. “Mr. Pearce maintains his innocence and urges the general public to know that whereas allegations have the facility to form a story, that it’s hardly the complete, full story. We sit up for vigorously defending our Shopper and stay assured that he’ll proceed contributing positively to each his staff and the group he serves so nicely.”
Jackson instructed police that she and Pearce dated for about three years however just lately ended their relationship. Jackson blocked Pearce’s cellphone quantity to keep away from contact with him, however he used an alternate quantity to textual content her. A Friday afternoon textual content from Jackson instructed Pearce to go away her alone and that she wished nothing to do with him. The textual content messages from Pearce continued via Friday into Saturday morning. Jackson confirmed the messages to police.
“We have now been involved with the membership concerning the matter which will likely be reviewed underneath the private conduct coverage,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy mentioned Monday.
The Falcons issued a press release Saturday evening saying they had been “gathering extra data.”
Pearce, who completed third in AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the 12 months voting at NFL Honors on Thursday, set a Falcons rookie file with a team-leading 10.5 sacks in 2025.
