Former Panthers Player Arrested

Former Carolina Panther player, from South Carolina has been charged with operating a Columbia nightclub without a license.

Stephen Davis, 38, who retired from the NFL in 2008, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with avoiding tax by operating a retail business without a license and with three fraudulent check charges.

According to WBTV, Davis owns a club called PURE Lounge  located on Berryhill Road in Columbia. His business license had been revoked by the SC Department of Revenue in July 2012, according to the article, but Davis had continued to operate the business.

Davis is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center.

Davis was the No. 1 recruit in the nation in 1992. After leaving Spartanburg High, Davis played three years at Auburn University before being drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1996.

Davis joined the Carolina Panthers in 2003 and played in Super Bowl XXXVIII. He was named as one of the top three MVPs in the NFL that same year.

Davis was injured early in the 2004 season and remained on the injured reserve list for 2004 and part of the 2005 season for the Panthers. He was released by the team in March 2006 and went on to play for the St. Louis Rams.

Davis signed a one-day contract with the Panthers so he could officially retire as a Panther in Feburary 2008.

Bond has been set at $5,300 for the three fraudlent check charges.

A bond amount has not been set for the operation of a business without a license.