Jets Pro Bowl defensive end Sheldon Richardson is being charged for resisting arrest and a buttload of traffic violations stemming from an alleged night of dipshittery that took place during the wee hours of July 14.
According to authorities in Missouri's St. Charles County, Richardson was involved in a high-speed race on the highway, where he was clocked going "as fast as 143 MPH" as he was being chased by police. When cops tried to get Richardson to pull over, he apparently sped through a red light to get away.
In the car with him at the time were two other adults as well as a 12-year-old.
Furthermore, Richardson is said to have gone around stopped vehicles and switched off his lights in an effort to evade the police. At one point he lost control, skidding the rear of his car into oncoming traffic. He also darted down a residential street, again, with his lights off, before turning into a driveway in an apparent attempt to have the cops drive right past him. When that didn't work he was ordered out of his vehicle at gunpoint, at which point he reportedly reached under his seat. He did comply with the order, though police say he had a fully loaded semi-automatic handgun under his driver's side floor mat. According to the local prosecutor he is legally authorized to carry the weapon. Additionally, police on the scene picked up "a very strong odor of burned marijuana." But had no evidence to bring charges on that front.
The potential punishment for resisting arrest carries a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail.
Due to a positive test for marijuana earlier this month, Richardson was already suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the upcoming season.
On that failed drug test Richardson previously apologized in a statement using words almost certainly written for him by somebody else, saying:
"I apologize for letting down my family, teammates, this organization and the fans. However, words aren’t enough. This is something that can only be addressed by how I handle myself from this point on. I don’t want this to take away from what the team is trying to accomplish. While I won’t be there at the start of the regular season, I will do whatever I can to support my teammates until I’m able to return to the field.”
That apology was made on July 2, roughly two weeks prior to this incident.
UPDATE:
Here is Richardson's mugshot, courtesty of TMZ Sports:
[via St. Louis Today]
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