Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold has been arrested in connection with an alleged armed robbery and kidnapping that occurred in Tampa, Florida, in February.
A statement from the city of Tampa on Wednesday night said that Arnold turned himself in on Wednesday night. He is facing four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery.
According to a press release from the Florida state attorney’s office, Arnold will have criminal charges filed against him and “is facing multiple felony charges which carry a potential sentence of up to life in prison.”
“Arnold is accused of coordinating and directing the codefendants to lure three men to an apartment where the victims were robbed, beaten and held at gunpoint,” the statement from the state attorney’s office said.
“Arnold believed the victims in the case stole more than $200,000 worth of his personal items during a stay in his AirBNB property, although there is no evidence to prove the victims were involved in the theft.”
In a statement provided to The Detroit News, Arnold’s representation denied “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,” the statement, signed by Denise White, CEO of EAG Sports Management, said.
It concludes, “Mr. Arnold looks forward to his day in court and is confident that the judicial process will lead to his ultimate vindication.”
The Lions said in a statement: “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.”
State attorney Suzy Lopez said in the release, “No one has the right to take the law into their own hands. A dispute over missing property does not justify kidnapping, violence or retaliation. This arrest is the result of months of investigative work and collaboration between the Tampa police department and our prosecutors. We will continue to pursue justice for the three victims by holding everyone accountable for their roles in this crime.”
Arnold is the seventh person to be arrested in connection with the incident. Two of the codefendants, Arianna Del Valle and Jasmine Randazzo, “pleaded guilty to their roles in the crime during a court hearing on June 24.”
Arnold’s name was first tied to the case on Feb. 24, when a judicial order from Hillsborough County Circuit Judge J. Logan Murphy that granted the state’s motion for pretrial detention against Boakai Hilton, one of the other codefendants in the case. It alleged that the armed robbery and kidnapping took place in retaliations to a pair of thefts that occurred at Arnold’s rental home in Largo, Florida.
Prior to the armed robbery and kidnapping, which occurred on Feb. 4, Arnold was the victim of two thefts on Feb. 1 and Feb. 3, according to a statement from the city of Tampa. The thieves stole high-end bags, guns, jewelry, cash, and a cell phone, according to a police report filed with the Largo Police Department on Feb. 3.
Text messages obtained by The Detroit News in March via an open records request with the state attorney’s office alleged that Del Valle and Randazzo orchestrated a meetup with the men believed to have stolen Arnold’s property. Arnold’s name was mentioned several times in the planning of the setup.
A statement from the city of Tampa on Wednesday night said that Arnold and Hilton “coordinated and directed Del Valle and Randazzo to contact one of the victims and lure him to their apartment.”
The victims drove to the location where two other codefendants, Christion Williams and Lyndell Hudson, hid inside a closet. When the victims arrived, Williams and Hudson “grabbed them, held them at gunpoint and hit them.” It adds that Del Valle streamed the incident to Arnold, Hilton and Freddie Hughes, another codefendant, as the three men were traveling to the apartment from another location. Arnold and Hilton reportedly gave directions during the assault, the statement said.
Randazzo was sentenced to four years in Florida State Prison, and Del Valle entered an open plea and will be sentenced at a later date. According to the release, as part of their plea agreements, Del Valle and Randazzo “are required to testify truthfully in any further proceedings related to this case.”
Lions coach Dan Campbell said at the NFL’s annual league meetings in March that he’s choosing to trust Arnold’s account of the matter.
“I mean, until something happens, I feel like we’re going to be good here,” Campbell said. “I’m going to trust what the kid said that we’re all right.”
Talking to the media following a minicamp practice in Allen Park last week, Arnold was asked if he had tightened his circle after events that occurred during the offseason.
“I’m a home guy, hang around my family and stuff like that. But I mean, as far as things like that, I just feel like, kind of — when certain things happen in life, it’s best to, like, remain silent,” Arnold said. “I mean, you can speak on stuff if you want to speak on it, but I mean, at the end of the day, silence, sometimes, is the best answer.”
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Lions’ Terrion Arnold facing charges that carry life sentence in kidnapping plot
Reporting by Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
