American sprinter Christian Coleman was taken into custody on Thursday in Winter Park, Florida, facing charges related to possessing drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer without violence, as per court documents.
Coleman’s arrest happened during the same traffic stop that involved his girlfriend, fellow sprinter Shakari Richardson, who was cited for going over 100 mph in a gray Aston Martin, according to reports.
Another Team USA sprinter, Twanisha Terry, received a ticket for stopping on a restricted highway after she pulled over to check on her friends at the scene, as noted in the arrest affidavit.
Terry was allowed to leave afterward and took Richardson’s wallet with her.
While Richardson was being pulled over, Coleman parked his black Jeep nearby. He got out and approached the officers, but they directed him to return to his vehicle.
According to the police, Coleman did not follow commands to stay away from the traffic incident and tried to explain Richardson’s speeding behavior. Ultimately, he refused to show his identification, leading to his arrest for resisting.
Authorities noted that Coleman appeared to drop an item in the grass while walking back to his Jeep. Later, a “glass smoking device” was recovered from the center console of the vehicle, alongside 20 grams of marijuana, according to court records.
A spokesperson from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office mentioned that Richardson, during the stop, stated, “He was driving in a dangerous manner, swerving across lanes to pass other motorists.” In his defense, Richardson claimed he was speeding due to underinflated tires and that a phone error had affected his car’s settings.
Both Richardson and Coleman’s cars were impounded, and they were taken to the Orange County Jail in separate transport. Coleman later posted a cash bond of $1,000 that night, covering $500 for himself and $500 for Richardson.
Richardson, meanwhile, was charged with dangerous speeding and faced four additional traffic offenses. This incident follows an earlier situation where Richardson was arrested on domestic violence charges involving Coleman at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport last July.
