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NFL star Richard Sherman arrested on domestic violence charge

Sherman was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2011, and helped them win their first Super Bowl in 2014.
Richard Sherman
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman (25) looks on during the NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals on September 13, 2020, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
/ Source: NBC News

NFL cornerback Richard Sherman was arrested Wednesday and charged with burglary domestic violence after attempting to gain entry into his wife's parents' home, authorities said.

Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe said during a news conference Wednesday an occupant called 911 early Wednesday morning informing police Sherman was attempting to get inside. Lowe said he believed there was a "verbal altercation" between Sherman and occupants at the home.

A statement from the Redmond Police Department said officers were called to a house at 1:46 a.m. for a report of a burglary in progress.

When police first confronted Sherman, the interaction was calm and he even joked with officers, Lowe said. But when officers told him he would be placed under arrest, Sherman began walking away and "accelerated his pace."

"At that point in time that the officers made physical contact ... he resisted, an altercation occurred, and subsequently a K-9 was deployed," Lowe said.

Sherman received minor lacerations to his lower leg as a result of the contact with the police dog, according to Lowe.

Lowe said Sherman "smelled of intoxicant emanating from his mouth and person."

Sherman was booked at the King County Correctional Facility at about 6 a.m., records show. He was denied bail and remained in custody as of Wednesday afternoon.

The domestic component of Sherman's charges, Lowe specified, was not because he was violent toward anyone in the home, but because of his familial relationship to the residents. Lowe said because of the domestic component of the charge against him, he would have to see a judge who would determine bail before his release.

Sherman's wife, Ashley Moss, gave a statement to the Seattle Times, saying: "At this time we’re going to make no statements, except he didn’t harm anybody. My kids were not harmed in the incident. He’s a good person and this is not his character. We’re doing all right, just trying to get him out. I want people to know no one was injured.”

Troopers with the Washington State Patrol responded because he was suspected of crashing his vehicle into a highway cement barrier and fleeing from the scene before arriving at the residence, police said. Sherman allegedly drove away with popped tires before abandoning the vehicle in a nearby parking lot.

About 20 minutes before 911 was called to the residence of Sherman's wife's parents, Sherman is suspected of driving his damaged vehicle into a closed construction zone on a highway, said Capt. Ron Mead with the Washington State Patrol.

"We are very fortunate," Mead said. "These crews are out working at night at great risks to themselves. Here you have an impaired driver, suspected impaired driver, that not only placed other motorists at risk, he placed those people that are doing construction at risk by entering a closed construction zone. We are very fortunate that there were no injuries as a result of that."

Lowe said Sherman is suspected of walking away from the heavily damaged vehicle to the Redmond residence where his wife's parents live.

A spokesperson for the Washington State Patrol said that Sherman is being investigated on suspicion of a hit-and-run and driving while under the influence over the incident. A warrant was obtained for a blood sample, although pathology results may take weeks due to a laboratory backlog.

Sherman’s manager told NBC News that he just learned about the arrest. He had no other details.

Sherman was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2011, and helped them win their first Super Bowl in 2014. He played with the San Francisco 49ers from 2018 to 2020. He is currently a free agent.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com.