Former Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers star Richard Sherman was arrested on Wednesday after authorities said he crashed his SUV in a construction zone, tried to break into his in-laws' home, and fought with officers who used a police dog to subdue him.
Sherman was booked into King County jail on suspicion of resisting arrest, malicious mischief and residential burglary. The burglary charge is a felony with a domestic violence component because it involved the home of relatives. Police said Sherman did not enter the home or strike any family members.
Sherman's wife, Ashley Moss, told the Seattle Times: 'At this time we're going to make no statements, except he didn't harm anybody. My kids were not harmed in the incident. He's a good person and this is not his character.' She added that she was 'trying to get him out' of jail.
The incident began with a 911 call from a construction crew who reported an apparently intoxicated driver in a closed construction zone. The vehicle struck a barricade and was later disabled. Shortly after, police received a call from the in-laws' home reporting that Sherman was trying to break in. Officers attempted to calm him, but his demeanour changed when told he was under arrest, and he fought as they tried to take him into custody.
Sherman sustained minor cuts to his lower leg and was treated at a hospital before being taken to jail. A blood test for intoxicants is pending, and additional charges of driving under the influence and hit-and-run may follow. The NFL said it would investigate the incident for potential violation of its personal conduct policy.
Sherman, a free agent, became a Seattle sports legend during his seven seasons with the Seahawks, including a Super Bowl victory in 2014. He later played three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. The NFL Players Association said it was monitoring the situation and had activated its domestic violence crisis protocol.
