ATLANTA
Atlanta Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr was arrested near Miami on Saturday night following a police chase and crash, which authorities said stemmed from a domestic dispute with WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
Pearce, a first-round pick who led the Falcons in sacks this season and finished third in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Centre.
Doral police responded to a report of a domestic dispute between a man and a woman.
According to jail records, Pearce faces charges including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, and fleeing or eluding police with lights and siren. Bond had not been immediately set.
“We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr in Miami,” the Falcons said in a statement. “We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time.”
WPLG TV in Miami reported that Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez confirmed the dispute was between Pearce and Jackson, a forward for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.
Jackson was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft and averaged 14.7 points in 38 games during the 2025 season. She played collegiately at Tennessee and Mississippi State.
By James Kisoo
