Sandy MaloneBy Sandy Malone and Holly Matkin
Tampa, FL – Former Pittsburgh Steeler Antonio Brown is reportedly in an ongoing standoff with police at his home in Tampa.
Earlier today, media reported that a warrant had been issued for the former NFL wide receiver in connection with a domestic violence incident that occurred between the 34-year-old Brown and the mother of four of his children.
The warrant, which was issued on Thursday, ordered that Brown be arrested on a battery charge, ESPN reported.
But when Tampa police went to Brown’s home to arrest him on Dec. 1, he locked himself inside his residence and refused to come out, NBC Sports reported.
Sources said that Brown has refused to communicate with police and that they weren’t initially sure that he was inside the home, so they set up a perimeter to wait for the former NFL star to arrive home or come outside.
Breaking: Antonio Brown is reportedly in a standoff with police. He has an arrest warrant for domestic battery.
Brown is alleged to have guns in house.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 1, 2022
Sports Illustrated reported that police have progressed to trying to talk Brown out of his house using a megaphone.
He is believed to have at least two guns in the house.
#Breaking: Antonio Brown, Police Are Reportedly In Standoff He has locked himself in his residence, per multiple reports. #NFL #Bucs #Steelers
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) December 1, 2022
Sources said police are willing to wait out Brown and don’t want to risk an exchange of gunfire, MSN reported.
Tampa police responded Brown’s residence on Nov. 28 for a report of a domestic dispute, WTVT reported.
According to the police report, Brown allegedly went outside and threw a shoe at his ex-fiancé prior to officers’ arrival.
The victim told police the shoe hit her ponytail and that she was uninjured, but that she “believed the shoe was meant for her head,” WTVT reported.
She said Brown also threw her belongings out into the street during the incident, but that she had gathered them up and placed them in the driveway before police arrived.
Police tried to speak with Brown, but he refused to open the door, WTVT reported.
He also allegedly threatened to shoot his ex-fiancé if she entered the house, according to police.
The woman told police Brown had two guns inside the home, WTVT reported.
The victim, who is also the mother of four of Brown’s children, has resided at the house since Oct. 18, according to police.
“The suspect placed an informal eviction notice on the door … with 11/28/2022 at the date showing the victim has 7 days to gather her belongings and leave,” the police report read, according to WTVT. “The suspect continued throughout the incident to state that the victim had no right to be at that residence or to even gain entry to it because she did not live there.”
Officers said they repeatedly tried to get Brown to allow the woman to gather her belongings, but he refused.
They ultimately told the woman that she should go elsewhere for the night, WTVT reported.
The officers told the children that they could go back into the home, but the kids said they didn’t want to because they were afraid, according to the police report.
Details regarding where the children ultimately went were not released.
The Tampa Police Department (TPD) filed a risk protection order against Brown the following day out of concern that he had access to a firearm and possibly posed a significant risk to himself or others, but the judge denied the request, WTVT reported.
The reason for the denial is unclear.
Brown, who is now a free agent, was booted from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in early January after he threw a temper tantrum and stormed off the field during a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
He has not played for the NFL in nearly a year and has instead been focusing on a music career, according to ESPN.
He previously played for the New England Patriots, the Oakland Raiders, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, WTVT reported.
This is a developing story and we will keep you updated. For all of our updates, follow us on Facebook and go to your news feed preferences under your settings, then select that you want to see more of The Police Tribune’s posts in your news feed. Otherwise, Facebook may not show you updates.
Holly Matkin
