More details emerge surrounding arrest of former Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr.
By Mark Kern
Published:
Former Tennessee and current Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was arrested Saturday in Florida on five felony charges, and more details are coming out on what transpired
On Monday, it came out that Pearce allegedly crashed his vehicle into a car being driven by WNBA player and former Lady Vol Rickea Jackson, while also striking a police officer with his car as he was trying to evade arrest.
Pearce was released from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Sunday night after posting a $20,500 bond.
Pearce is facing two felony counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and a felony count of aggravated stalking. He is also facing other charges such as fleeing and eluding police officers and aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, which are all also felonies. He has also been charged with a misdemeanor count of resisting an officer without violence to his person.
The Atlanta Falcons released a statement on Saturday night to ESPN, where they said the following.
“We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr., in Miami,” the statement read. “We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time.”
The incident occurred just a couple days after Pearce finished third in the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after a season where he set an Atlanta Falcons rookie record with 10.5 sacks.
