Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold was arrested Wednesday in Tampa, Florida and faces multiple felony charges, Yankee Scores reports.
The charges are related to a robbery and kidnapping that took place in early February.
Tampa police have previously arrested six others in a targeted armed robbery that occurred shortly after midnight of Feb. 4, during which three male victims were pistol-whipped, held at gunpoint and robbed, police say.
Arnold was the lead conspirator, police said, accused of “coordinating and directing the codefendants” to lure the three men to an apartment where the assault happened, the state attorney’s office said in a release.
The Voluntary Surrender
Arnold surrendered himself and was booked into Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County Wednesday night, per ESPN.
He is charged with four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery and could face life in prison. He is scheduled to be in court Thursday afternoon in Hillsborough County.
The state attorney’s office said it will seek a pretrial motion to keep Arnold behind bars until trial. No date has been set for that hearing.
The investigation found the incident began after personal property belonging to Arnold and others was stolen on Feb. 1 from an Airbnb that Arnold rented in Largo, Florida, where he periodically stayed with the six codefendants — Arianna Del Valle, Jasmine Randazzo, Lyndell Hudson, Christion Williams, Boakai Hilton and Freddie Lee Hughes III — along with other friends.
The $250K Airbnb Theft
On Feb. 3, Arnold, Hilton, Hughes and another person reported to the Largo Police Department the loss of more than $250,000 in property.
Tampa police say Arnold believed two of the three victims in the kidnapping case were responsible for the Airbnb robbery, but investigators later determined they had no involvement.
In a release, the state attorney’s office said Arnold “orchestrated the kidnapping and robbery just hours after reporting the missing items to the Largo Police Department.” Investigators also said they discovered a group chat where Arnold and Hilton allegedly gave instructions to Del Valle, Williams and Hudson during the assault at the apartment.
Arnold denies any involvement
In a statement Wednesday, Denise White, CEO of EAG Sports Management, said Arnold “categorically denies any involvement in the matters underlying the allegations made against him and maintains his innocence.
There is no credible evidence linking Mr. Arnold to these allegations. 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.
“Mr. Arnold looks forward to his day in court and is confident that the judicial process will lead to his ultimate vindication.”
The Lions, in a statement, said they were aware of the situation but declined to comment “out of respect for the ongoing legal process.”
