Detroit Lions’ starting cornerback Terrion Arnold Charged has been charged with multiple felonies, including kidnapping and robbery. He arrested Wednesday in Tampa, Florida, in connection with a robbery and kidnapping that occurred in early February.
In February, a court order stated that a man, Boakai Hilton, allegedly planned a kidnapping and multiple robberies while traveling in a car with Terrion Arnold. The alleged crimes were supposedly 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 involvement in the theft of more than $250,000 worth of property being stolen from an Airbnb.
At that 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 authorities are holding the other four without bond. In a police video obtained by the Detroit Free Press in April, Arnold described Hilton as “my childhood best friend.”
According to ESPN and NBC News, police alleged that during the armed robbery, three men in their late teens were pistol-whipped, held at gunpoint and robbed. Now, authorities claim Terrion Arnold was the primary conspirator.
The state attorney claims Terrion Arnold was behind the assault
The state attorney’s office has officially accused Arnold of “coordinating and directing the codefendants” in order to entice 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,” State Attorney 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 Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County on Wednesday night. A judge could sentence him to life in prison if they find him guilty on all charges. He will appear in Hillsborough County court on Thursday afternoon.
Terrion Arnold’s attorney, the Detroit Lions, and the NFL issue 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 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.”
In March, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell was quoted as saying that “it seems like he wasn’t involved with this.” Now, the Detroit Lions and the NFL have issued 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,” the 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.”