At least 7 calls to police were made about Falcons LB James Pearce Jr. before his arrest in domestic violence case

At least seven calls were made to police in the days and weeks before Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. was arrested after allegedly assaulting Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson.

Pearce was arrested in February in Doral, Florida, for allegedly hitting Jackson’s car with his Lamborghini SUV as Jackson tried to escape and drive to the police station. This argument was apparently one of several fights that occurred in the weeks leading up to the incident.

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Accordingly ESPNAt least seven previous 911 calls had been made to police about Pearce. Jackson’s name was occasionally mentioned in the reports, but he stated that he was being followed and harassed, and that he believed Pearce was trying to break into his home. Police told Pearce to stay away from the home of the woman identified as his ex-girlfriend on Jan. 13, according to records obtained by ESPN.

According to the report, police were repeatedly dispatched to a home identified as his on-and-off girlfriend’s home from November until his arrest in February, but no arrests were made until the end. Two calls were made on January 28, one of which stated that a burglary was in progress and that “the subject was Pearce,” but Jackson told police he saw Pearce leaving before they arrived. Later that night, a woman called 911 and told police she did not want Pearce to enter her home and that she was “scared” because the door was damaged. Pearce wasn’t there when the police arrived.

In November, a woman called police and said Pearce showed up at her home, knocked on the door repeatedly and called the landline “various times” but he refused to answer the door and told her to leave. Pearce left 20 minutes before police arrived and the woman said Pearce owed her $70,000.

There were two reports of civil unrest that were largely redacted in their respective reports. A security guard told police Pearce followed his client on Feb. 2 and was seen at his client’s home “many times over the last few days.”

Pearce was arrested five days later. Jackson told police that day that he followed Pearce’s vehicle and even tried to open his car door at a light. When she tried to drive to Doral Police Department headquarters, she said Pearce rammed her car multiple times.

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Pearce allegedly returned to his car after police arrived and drove away while trying to open the door. He eventually crashed at an intersection, fled on foot, and was eventually arrested after resisting arrest.

Pearce faces five felony charges, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, one count of aggravated stalking, fleeing and eluding officers, and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. He was released on bail and given a stay-away order to ensure he did not interact with Jackson.

Pearce, who was selected 26th overall in last year’s draft and finished third in Associated Press voting for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year last season, has maintained his innocence. If domestic violence charges go to trial, Jackson is “prepared to testify” against him.

The incident is also being investigated by the NFL under its personal conduct policy.