06/25/26 12:33:00
Printable Page
06/25 00:29 CDT Detroit Lions player Terrion Arnold arrested in connection to
Florida kidnapping and robbery
Detroit Lions player Terrion Arnold arrested in connection to Florida
kidnapping and robbery
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) --- Detroit Lions player Terrion Arnold has been arrested in
connection to a kidnapping and robbery in Florida and faces felony charges,
officials said Wednesday.
Arnold, 23, is accused of being the "primary conspirator" before three men in
their late teens were held at gunpoint, battered and pistol-whipped in February
in Tampa, the city's police department said in a statement. Some of their
belongings were stolen, police said.
Arnold is facing four counts of a weapon-related charge and four more counts of
a charge related to kidnapping, harming or terrorizing, according to the
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrest records.
Tampa police had already arrested six others suspected of being part of the
targeted armed robbery. Two of them have pleaded guilty and the other four are
being held without bond, according to the Hillsborough County State Attorney's
Office.
Denise White, CEO of EAG Sports Management, which represents Arnold, said he
denies being involved.
"There is no credible evidence linking Mr. Arnold to these allegations," White
said in a statement. "Instead, the government appears to be relying on
testimony from multiple convicted felons who have admitted their own
involvement and may have substantial incentives to shift blame in an effort to
lessen their sentences."
In early February, Arnold and a few of his friends had reported more than
$250,000 worth of their property being stolen from an Airbnb in Largo, police
said.
Arnold believed that two men in their late teens had been behind it, although
investigators later determined this was not the case, police said.
Hours after reporting the theft, Arnold orchestrated the kidnapping and
robbery, according to the State Attorney's Office.
Arnold and his friends worked to get the men, along with another, to an
apartment on Feb. 4, police said. Initially, two of Arnold's friends held them
at gunpoint and hit them, while another streamed it to Arnold, police said.
Later, when the assault was still going on, Arnold also came to the apartment,
police said. His other friends stole some of the victims' belongings, police
said.
The victims reported the robbery to police.
"No one has the right to take the law into their own hands," State Attorney
Suzy Lopez said in a statement. "A dispute over missing property does not
justify kidnapping, violence, or retaliation."
Arnold is a starting cornerback for the Detroit Lions who was a first-round
pick in the 2024 draft after playing at the University of Alabama. He is from
Florida.
The Lions said in a statement Wednesday night that they were aware of the
situation but would not be commenting at this time.
"Arnold is facing multiple felony charges which carry a potential sentence of
up to life in prison," according to the Hillsborough County State Attorney's
Office.
Arnold turned himself in to law enforcement on Wednesday. He is expected to
make his first appearance in Hillsborough County court Thursday afternoon,
according to the State Attorney's Office.
|