Richard Sherman Arrested By Redmond Police

REDMOND, WA — Former Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman was arrested outside a Redmond home Wednesday morning after investigators allege he crashed his SUV on State Route 520, attempted to break into a house belonging to his wife's parents, then resisted arrest.

Sherman, 33, played seven seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He is currently a free agent and lives in Maple Valley. King County records show Sherman was booked into jail just after 6 a.m.

The NFL Players Association, where Sherman serves on the executive committee, released a statement Wednesday morning.

Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe and Washington State Patrol Captain Ron Mead hosted a news conference detailing the arrest Wednesday afternoon.

Mead said a 911 caller reported that an SUV heading east on State Route 520 entered a lane closed for construction and crashed shortly before 1:30 a.m. A contractor working for the Washington State Department of Transportation told investigators he suspected the driver was impaired, and the vehicle left the scene.

Troopers located an SUV with significant damage abandoned in a parking lot about half a mile from the crash scene, and the vehicle's plates returned Sherman's information, Mead said. As troopers searched the area, they learned of a separate call involving Sherman in the Redmond Police Department's jurisdiction.

Less than 30 minutes after the crash, Redmond's police chief said one of Sherman's relatives called 911 to report he was trying to break into their home in the Viewpoint area. Lowe said officers approached the home and spoke to Sherman, describing the initial conversation as amicable. Once officers told Sherman he faced arrest for the attempted break-in, Lowe said he began to walk away.

Lowe said Sherman resisted an officer's attempt to place him under arrest, and police released a K-9, which bit him in the ankle area. As he approached WSP troopers staged nearby, Mead said one trooper took Sherman to the ground.

Sherman was treated for a minor laceration from the K-9 at a local hospital, and Washington State Patrol obtained a warrant for a blood draw at the hospital to determine if he was impaired. The results are still pending.

The King County jail roster listed Sherman as booked on suspicion of "burglary domestic violence." Police clarified that the domestic violence enhancement was due only to his relationship with the people in the home and said no one was assaulted. The police department is also alleging malicious mischief, stemming from damage to the door, and resisting arrest. Mead said WSP would seek hit-and-run and DUI charges, pending results of the bloodwork.

Sherman has yet to be formally charged with a crime.

Since he was booked well after midnight Wednesday, a spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said Sherman's first court appearance was likely to take place Thursday afternoon. At the hearing, prosecutors will file a determination of probable cause outlining the allegations. If the judge finds probable cause, he will set a bail amount.

Prosecutors will then work to reach a formal charging decision based on a review of the police investigation. Any misdemeanor charges would be handled separately in municipal court.

The Redmond Police Department is not equipped with dashboard or body-worn cameras.