NFL’s Richard Sherman pleads not guilty, says he has “deep remorse” after his arrest

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Seattle (AFP) – Richard Sherman, the former star of the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, said Friday that he “deeply regrets” his arrest for allegedly crashing a drunk SUV into a construction area and attempting to break into his suburban Seattle home this week. .

Sherman tweeted a statement before the court appearance and pleaded not guilty to drunk driving, criminal trespass, resisting arrest and other charges.

“I acted in a way that I’m not proud of,” Sherman said. “I’ve been dealing with some personal challenges over the past several months, but that’s no excuse for how I’m behaving. The importance of mental and emotional health is very real and I pledge to get the help I need.”

Sherman, who was released from prison Thursday, was charged with five felony counts that also include reckless endangerment of road workers and malicious mischief. All are misdemeanors, punishable by up to 90 days in prison, or serious misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year.

A warlike, heavy drinker, Sherman spoke of killing himself when he left his home in the Seattle suburb of Maple Valley late Tuesday, according to police reports. His wife, Ashley Sherman, called 911 in an attempt to stop him by the police.

Police said his car crashed into a construction area early Wednesday along a busy highway east of Seattle and then tried to break into his parents’ home in the suburb of Redmond. Workers said the driver entered the closed construction area at 60 to 70 mph (97 to 113 kph) and sped away after encountering it, firing sparks from a wheel, then leaving the crippled vehicle nearby.

The video shows Richard Sherman trying to impose a method in a house within the law

Sherman’s father-in-law, Raymond Moss, told officers that he armed himself with a pistol and fired pepper spray into the corner of the NFL’s back to protect his family while Sherman tried to storm Moss’s door with his shoulder.

One of Moss’ other daughters pleaded with the 911 operator for officers to arrive quickly and told her children to hide in the bathroom behind a shower curtain, according to the audio of the call released Thursday.

“The family started screaming in fear,” Raymond Moss told police. “I applied pepper spray to Sherman’s face through the partially open door where he was still banging and trying to get in. I told him to stop. I armed myself with my pistol at this time out of fear for my safety and that of my family.”

Officers were cautious about arresting Sherman due to his size, strength and aggressiveness, according to police reports. After trying to calm the situation, they decide to use less lethal force after warning Sherman that they will do so if he does not comply with their orders.

They couldn’t use the Taser because they were worried about igniting any chemical that Sherman’s father-in-law had sprayed and they couldn’t release a bean bag because they were too close to it. Instead, they released a police dog, which bit his ankle and caused a slight wound, with other officers grappling with him on the ground, according to the reports.

In February, King County prosecutors and the mayor obtained Sherman’s “extreme danger protection order,” which banned him from possessing guns after a judge determined he posed a danger to himself or others. Details of the case were closed and it was not immediately clear whether weapons were seized.

Ashley Sherman told police that her husband was taking antidepressants and was receiving mental health counseling.

The arrest was Sherman’s first known involvement in the criminal justice system. In his statement, he thanked members of the community and his family for their support.

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At a court hearing Thursday, Sherman’s attorney, Cooper Offenbecher, did not challenge probable cause for the arrest. But he said Sherman should be released without bail, and noted his good deeds in the community, including founding the Universal Coverage Foundation, a charity that provides low-income students with school supplies and clothing.

Sherman, 33, became a Seattle sports legend during seven seasons with the Seahawks. The knockout was a star in her run to the 2014 Super Bowl victory, having her role in saving the game for deflecting a pass in an NFC Championship game against 49 players.

He left the Seahawks after the 2017 season and played three seasons with San Francisco. He is now a free client.

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