Falcons’ James Pearce Jr. charged with 3 felonies, misdemeanor

The Miami-Dade (Florida) State Attorney brought four charges against Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. on Thursday in relation to a Feb. 7 incident involving WNBA player Rickea Jackson, according to a court document.

Pearce, 22, has been charged with three felonies — aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person. A fourth arrest charge of felony aggravated stalking was changed to a misdemeanor.

An arrest charge of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer was dropped.

Pearce allegedly followed the car of Jackson, his ex-girlfriend, and repeatedly used his vehicle to collide with hers as she attempted to reach the Doral (Florida) police station.

After being confronted by a police officer, Pearce allegedly fled in his vehicle and took police on a chase before crashing at an intersection. He fled the vehicle on foot before being subdued by officers and then allegedly resisted arrest.

Pearce was arrested and spent a night in a county correctional center before paying a $20,500 bond and being released Feb. 8.

Jackson, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, filed an injunction for a protective order against Pearce in Miami-Dade County on Feb. 9. In her petition, Jackson wrote that she was in fear for her life and that if the court did not intervene then “James will kill me.”

She wrote that Pearce “verbally and physically abused me on more than one occasion” and threatened to kill, harm and injure her and to place a bag over her head, according to the court filing.

The court granted her initial request for protection, and a permanent injunction hearing is set for April 21. Pearce is under order not to have contact with Jackson or come within 500 feet of her home or place of employment or 100 feet from her vehicle.

Pearce’s legal team told ESPN on Thursday in an email that it stands by its original statement in which, after his arrest, they said Pearce “maintains his innocence and urges the public to understand that while allegations have the power to shape a narrative, that it is hardly the full, complete story.”

Jackson’s attorneys did not immediately return messages left by ESPN.

An NFL spokesperson told ESPN on Thursday that “we continue to monitor all developments in the matter which remains under review of the personal conduct policy.”

The Falcons declined comment.

Police in Florida responded to at least seven other 911 calls made involving Pearce and an ex-girlfriend whose name was redacted from police reports from November until the day of Pearce’s arrest.