Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr, who was detained on five felony charges on Saturday, allegedly struck a police officer while evading arrest and crashed into a vehicle driven by WNBA player Rickea Jackson, ESPN reported on Monday.
According to the criminal complaint obtained by ESPN from the Miami-Dade County state attorney’s office, the charges against Pearce include aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking and aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer.
The 22-year-old NFL rookie was released from custody on Sunday night after posting a $20,500 bond.
Jackson, a forward with the Los Angeles Sparks, told police that Pearce followed her in a Lamborghini SUV and tried to open her car door at a red light. Jackson drove away but Pearce continued to follow her as she drove toward a police station. Jackson told officers that Pearce drove into the rear of her car near the police station, then ran his vehicle into hers head-on.
According to the affidavit, police officers arrived at the scene after Jackson called them and saw Pearce standing outside his SUV. One of the officers pulled out his gun and ordered Pearce to get on the ground, but Pearce instead got in his car and closed the door. After the officer opened the car door, Pearce shut it and attempted to leave the scene.
Pearce’s SUV hit an officer’s knee, an incident the affidavit described as “intentionally in an attempt to evade arrest.”
After a pursuit, Pearce’s car crashed at an intersection, and he left the vehicle and started running. When officers caught up to him, Pearce “began to resist arrest by tensing his arms and not allowing officers to apprehend him.” He was “triaged on scene” and taken for medical treatment.
Jackson told police she had recently ended a three-year relationship with Pearce, and blocked his number, but he had continued to text her from another phone. She showed the messages to the police.
“We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr, in Miami,” the Falcons said in a statement on Saturday night. “We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time.”
Atlanta selected Pearce with the 26th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft out of Tennessee, which he attended alongside Jackson. He finished third in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting this season.
