Jets' Richardson charged with resisting arrest after high-speed race
Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson finds himself in legal issues in addition to already being suspended by the NFL.
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Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson was charged Thursday with resisting arrest and multiple traffic violations, according to a report in The St. Louis Dispatch. Authorities say all charges were connected to a high-speed race on Highway 40 in Missouri on July 14.
According to St. Charles County Prosecutor Tim Lohmar, Richardson was caught driving as fast as 143 mph in a 2014 Bentley Silver Spur. Lohmar said that Richardson sped up after officers tried to stop him, left the highway, and then went through a traffic light.
Statement of probable cause regarding Sheldon Richardson's arrest on a variety of charges. (via @sccmo) pic.twitter.com/HBMuPRQZSP
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) July 30, 2015
Richardson was arrested in a driveway in a nearby neighborhood. Inside the car, were two other men and a 12-year-old child. Richardson was the only person charged.
More on Richardson arrest: Police found a fully loaded semiautomatic handgun under driver's floor mat. All passengers smelled of marijuana
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) July 30, 2015
To be clear, Richardson wasn't suspected of breaking any laws with the gun in his possession. No drugs found either according to report
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) July 30, 2015
According to Lohmar, resisting arrest -- a misdemeanor -- can be punished by up to a year in jail in addition to a $1,000 fine. The St. Louis Dispatched also reported that, in addition to resisting arrest, Richardson is charged with "exceeding the speed limit, following too closely, failing to use lights and failing to obey a traffic signal."
Shortly after the report, the Jets released a statement.
Jets statement on Sheldon: "We are aware of the situation & gathering info. This is a pending legal matter. We will have no further comment"
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) July 30, 2015
Back on July 2, Richardson was suspended by the NFL for violating the league's substances of abuse policy. Richardson has 11.5 sacks in his two seasons in the NFL.
