Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker James Pearce Jr., who was arrested on five felony charges on Saturday in Florida, allegedly struck a police officer with his vehicle while evading arrest and crashed into a vehicle driven by WNBA player Rickea Jackson, ESPN reported on Monday.
Per 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.
Pearce, 22, spent most of Saturday night and Sunday in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, then was released Sunday night after posting a $20,500 bond.
Jackson, a forward with the Los Angeles Sparks, told police Pearce followed her in a white Lamborghini SUV and tried to open her car door on the driver's side at a red light.
Jackson drove away but Pearce continued to follow her as she drove toward the Doral (Florida) Police Department. Jackson told police Pearce collided into the rear of her vehicle near the police station, then ran his vehicle into hers head-on.
Per the affidavit, Doral police officers arrived at the scene after Jackson called and saw Pearce standing outside of 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 came in contact with an officer in his left knee, which the affidavit described as "intentionally in an attempt to evade arrest."
Following a pursuit by officers, Pearce's car crashed at an intersection, and he took off 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 to Jackson West Medical Center.
Jackson told police she had recently ended a relationship with Pearce after about three years, and blocked his number, but he used another number to text her. Jackson texted Pearce on Friday to leave her alone, but Pearce continued to text her Friday and into Saturday morning. She showed the messages to the police.
"We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr., in Miami," the Falcons said in a prepared statement 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. It was announced Thursday night at NFL Honors that he finished third in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
He finished the 2025 season with 10.5 sacks -- the most by a rookie since Micah Parsons (13) for Dallas in 2021 -- 10 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and five pass breakups.
--Field Level Media
