SEATTLE — Former Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers star Richard Sherman was arrested Wednesday after authorities said he crashed his SUV in a suburban Seattle construction zone, tried to break into his in-laws’ home, and fought with officers who used a police dog to apprehend him.
Sherman was booked into the King County jail in Seattle just after 6 a.m. Wednesday on suspicion of resisting arrest, malicious mischief and residential burglary. The burglary charge is a felony that includes a domestic violence component because it was the home of relatives; Sherman did not enter the home, strike or try to strike any family members or significant other, authorities said.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Sherman had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. He remained in jail Wednesday, pending an initial court hearing expected Thursday where a judge will determine if there is probable cause to believe he committed a crime.
“At this time we’re going to make no statements, except he didn’t harm anybody,” Sherman’s wife, Ashley 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 alright, just trying to get him out. I want people to know no one was injured.”
Shortly before 1:30 a.m., the Washington State Patrol received a 911 call from a construction crew working along State Route 520 east of Seattle. The caller reported that an apparently intoxicated driver had entered the closed construction zone. As the vehicle left the zone, it struck a barricade, sustaining significant driver-side damage, Patrol Capt. Ron Mead told a news conference Wednesday.
The car drove a short distance before it was completely disabled, Mead said.
Just before 2 a.m., Redmond police received a 911 call from the in-laws’ home, reporting that Sherman was trying to break in, said Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe.
Officers and state troopers responded and tried to calm the situation by developing a rapport with the football star, authorities said, with one state trooper telling Sherman about how, as a teenager, he worked as a valet and once parked Sherman’s car.
The tactics initially seemed to work, but Sherman’s demeanor changed when the officers informed him he was under arrest, Lowe said. He began walking away rapidly and fought as police tried to take him into custody; a K-9 officer working as backup released the dog to subdue him.
Sherman was left with minor cuts to his lower leg and treated at a hospital before being taken to the downtown Seattle jail, authorities said. An officer also had minor injuries — scrapes that did not require medical attention.
While he was at the hospital, troopers obtained a warrant for a blood draw to test for intoxicants, Mead said. Results were pending, but the patrol was recommending additional charges of driving under the influence and hit-and-run.
The NFL said in a statement about Sherman that it “investigates any incident involving law enforcement and if there is a violation of the personal conduct policy the player would be facing discipline.”
Sherman, 33, become a Seattle sports legend during seven seasons with Seahawks. The cornerback was a star in their run to a 2014 Super Bowl victory, making a game-saving play to deflect a pass in the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers.
He left the Seahawks after the 2017 season and played three seasons with San Francisco. The 33-year-old is now a free agent.
The NFL Players Association said the union was monitoring the situation.
“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,” a union statement said.