James Pearce Jr. Arrested After Domestic Dispute in Miami

Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. was taken into custody following a domestic altercation with Rickea Jackson, a forward for the Los Angeles Sparks, as reported by the police. The incident occurred in Miami on a Saturday, culminating in a car crash during a pursuit conducted by law enforcement, according to Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez.

The chase led to Pearce’s arrest on Saturday evening, where he faced charges that included two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated stalking, all related to domestic violence, as noted in online records. Additional charges were made for aggravated battery of an officer, eluding police with lights and siren, and resisting an officer without creating violence against his person.

Pearce is currently held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. In a virtual court appearance on Sunday, it was disclosed that the deadly weapon in question was indeed a vehicle. Judge Jacqueline Woodward presided over the session and issued a domestic violence restraining order against Pearce, instructing him to avoid contact with Jackson, identified in court as “Ms. Jackson,” and maintain a distance of at least 500 feet from her residence. Pearce’s bail for these charges was set at $20,500.

The specific details regarding the relationship between Pearce and Jackson remain unclear, although it is known that both were students at the University of Tennessee from 2022 to 2024, during which they participated in their respective sports.

James Pearce Jr., aged 22, is an NFL newcomer, having been selected as a first-round draft pick by the Falcons in 2025. The Falcons issued a statement acknowledging their awareness of the “incident” and expressed an intent to collect further information while refraining from additional comments as the legal situation unfolds.

“We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time,” the statement read.

Pearce’s attorney, Jacob Nunez, stated that Pearce “maintains his innocence,” emphasizing the importance of understanding the broader context beyond the allegations. He expressed confidence in Pearce’s positive contributions to both his team and community.

“We look forward to vigorously defending our client and remain confident that he will continue contributing positively to both his team and the community he serves so well,” Nunez mentioned in the statement.

Circulating video footage, verified by the Doral Police Department, depicted Pearce being subdued and apprehended by several officers.

Efforts to reach representatives for Jackson for comment were unsuccessful, and her attorney chose not to provide any remarks. Rickea Jackson, at 24, has marked her presence in the WNBA following her selection as the fourth overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2024 and has averaged 14.7 points across 38 games in the 2025 season.

Contributions to this report were made by Mirna Alsharif, a breaking news reporter for NBC News; Anthony Cusumano, the South Region Deputy Director for NBC News; and additional input from Alex Lo and Doha Madani.