Pearce was arrested in Miami-Dade County, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 7
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NEED TO KNOW
- Atlanta Falcons’ rookie James Pearce Jr. was arrested in Florida on Saturday, Feb. 7
- According to local reports, the arrest came after an alleged domestic dispute with WNBA star Rickea Jackson
- Pearce Jr., 22, and Jackson, 24, appeared to confirm their relationship in April 2025
Atlanta Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr. was arrested in Florida after an alleged domestic dispute with Los Angeles Sparks WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
At around 6:58 p.m. local time on Saturday, Feb. 7, the NFL linebacker, 22, was booked at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, according to the Associated Press (AP) and ESPN. His arrest came after Doral police received reports of a domestic dispute between a man and a woman.
Pearce Jr. allegedly fled from responding police before crashing his car at Northwest 103rd Avenue and 66th Street, WPLG TV reported. He had allegedly had a domestic dispute with Jackson, 24, before the incident, Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez told WPLG TV.
The Falcons said in a statement to AP after Pearce’s arrest, “We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr. in Miami. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time.”
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Pearce was charged on multiple counts, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, one count of aggravated stalking, fleeing and eluding police officers and aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, per AP.
No bond was set for him at the time of his arrest, according to the outlet.
Pearce was selected as the 26th pick by the Falcons in the 2025 NFL draft and was voted third as the AP NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, per ESPN.
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ESPN/X
In April 2025, Pearce and Jackson appeared to confirm they were dating when they attended an NFL draft celebration held in Pearce’s honor in Charlotte, N.C.
In a video posted on X by ESPN, Jackson was seen rubbing Pearce’s leg as he learned he’d been selected at the celebration. Pearce then wrapped his arm around Jackson.
Pearce and Jackson both attended the University of Tennessee, where Jackson played for the Lady Volunteers for two seasons before being selected as the fourth pick by the Sparks in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Jackson has not publicly commented on Pearce’s arrest at this time.
The Doral Police and the Falcons did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Read the original article on People
Category: General Sports
