Detroit Lions starting cornerback Terrion Arnold Charged has been charged with multiple crimes, including kidnapping and robbery. He was arrested Wednesday in Tampa, Florida, in connection with a robbery and kidnapping that took place in early February.
In February a court order stated that a man, Boakai Hilton, allegedly planned a kidnapping and several robberies while traveling in a car with Terrion Arnold. The alleged crimes were allegedly in retaliation for a pair of thefts from Arnold’s rental home in Largo, Florida. The court order also stated that Arnold suspected his private driver, Yan Lopez, of being involved in the theft of more than $250,000 in property stolen from an Airbnb.
At the time, police had already arrested five people, including Hilton, in connection with the alleged crimes. They also took a sixth suspect into custody later. Two of them have pleaded guilty, while the authorities are holding the other four without bond. In a police video obtained by Detroit Free Press in April, Arnold described Hilton as “my childhood best friend.”
According to ESPN and NBC News, Police claimed that during the armed robbery, three men in their late teens were pistol-whipped, held at gunpoint and robbed. Now authorities allege that Terrion Arnold was the primary conspirator.
The State’s Attorney alleges that Terrion Arnold was behind the assault
The state attorney has officially accused Arnold of “coordinating and directing the accomplices” to lure the three guys to the apartment where the assault took place. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office charged him with four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery.
“No one has the right to take the law into their own hands,” Attorney General Suzy Lopez said in a statement. “A dispute over missing property does not justify kidnapping, violence or retaliation.”
Arnold, 23, turned himself in and officers took him into custody at the Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County Wednesday night. A judge can sentence him to life in prison if they find him guilty on all charges. He will appear in Hillsborough County court Thursday afternoon.
Terrion Arnold’s attorney, the Detroit Lions and the NFL are releasing statements
“There is no credible evidence linking Mr. Arnold to these allegations,” Denise White, CEO of EAG Sports Management, which represents Arnold, said in a statement. “Instead, the government appears to be relying on the testimony of multiple convicted felons who have admitted their own involvement and may have significant incentives to shift blame in an effort to reduce their sentences.”
In March Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell was quoted as saying that “it appears he was not involved in this.” Now, the Detroit Lions and the NFL have released statements about Arnold’s arrest.
“We are aware of the legal situation regarding Terrion Arnold. We will not comment at this time out of respect for the ongoing legal process,” he said. Lions said according to NFL.com.
The NFL’s statement read: “We are aware of the matter and have been in contact with the club. We have no further comment at this time.”
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