Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The Detroit Lions released NFL player Terrion Arnold on Monday, four days after the cornerback was charged with kidnapping and beating three men he falsely suspected of stealing luxury goods and stealing $100,000 in cash from him.
The Lions at X announced the news on Monday after a Florida judge set the 23-year-old’s bail at $1m (£750,000).
Prosecutors said the three men, their late teens, were held at gunpoint, beaten and robbed in an apartment in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 4. Among those killed was a driver who worked for Arnold, and at least seven others face charges.
The alleged incident comes three days after Arnold stole $250,000 (about £189,400) worth of luxury goods, including watches, cash and designer bags, from himself and others at a property in Largo, 20 miles west of Tampa.
Detroit Lions cornerback Terion Arnold (Associated Press)
However, investigators found that the victims were not involved in the robbery.
The victims said the cornerback’s friends lured them to a property where they held them at gunpoint and beat them. They added that the abduction flowed to Arnold.
On Wednesday, Arnold turned himself into police and appeared briefly in court, where a judge read the eight felony charges against him.
Chief Magistrate Christopher Sabella granted him bail and said he must not wear an ankle monitor because it would interfere with his ability to cope during games and training.
His representative, Dennis White, CEO of EAG Sports Management, said the jury’s verdict “confirms that there is little evidence to suggest Mr. Arnold’s criminal involvement.”
None of Arnold’s co-defendants have been granted bail. The two pleaded guilty and are cooperating with authorities. Prosecutors said their statements linked Arnold, who was not in the apartment, to the crime.
A Florida judge set Arnold’s bail at $1 million (£750,000) on Monday
Additionally, prosecutors argue that Arnold is just as responsible for the crime as his co-defendants because he told his accomplices he thought he knew who had stolen from him and said he wanted to confront them, setting events in motion.
State Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Erin Maloney said: “Our office is committed to seeking justice for the three victims in the case who were beaten, robbed and held against their will.”
The American footballer’s legal counsel, Harvey Steinberg, said in court Monday that prosecutors are “not even close” to showing Arnold that he knew or directed his co-defendants.
Arnold was drafted to the Lions as the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, playing his college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
In his two seasons in the NFL, Arnold made 24 appearances (22 starts) for the Lions and recorded 91 tackles while defending 18 passes.
