Falcons DE James Pearce Jr. arrested after police pursuit in Florida

Eric Larsen, USA TODAY Sun, February 8, 2026 at 3:07 AM UTC

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Atlanta Falcons rookie defensive end James Pearce Jr. was arrested Feb. 7 in Doral, Florida, after police say he crashed his vehicle during a police pursuit while fleeing a domestic dispute.

Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez told WPLG Local 10 News that Pearce, 22, was involved in a dispute at the Doral police headquarters when Pearce fled the scene and later crashed a vehicle he was driving before he was arrested.

Court records show that Pearce was jailed Feb. 7 on suspicion of two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, fleeing/eluding police officers, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence to his person. Bond had not been set on three of the charges, according to Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation.

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According to NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo, the Falcons released the following statement Feb. 7:

“We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr., in Miami. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time.”

Pearce was runner-up to the Cleveland Browns' Carson Schwesinger for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after compiling 10.5 sacks and a forced fumble for the 8-9 Falcons. Pearce attended the University of Tennessee prior to being selected 26th overall by the Falcons in the 2025 NFL draft.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Pearce Jr. arrested in Florida following police pursuit

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