Damoun Patterson, a former NFL practice squad player, was arrested in Florida on serious charges, including armed burglary and aggravated assault, as reported by police.
The Daytona Beach Police Department has charged the 31-year-old with several offenses: armed burglary of a dwelling, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and criminal mischief.
Patterson, who has had brief stints with teams like the Patriots, Steelers, Falcons, and Buccaneers, was still in custody as of Monday afternoon, according to booking records from the Volusia County jail.
In a video released by CBS 12, police can be seen stopping a white Kia, with an officer pointing a gun and instructing Patterson to exit the vehicle calmly, saying, “You be cool with me, we’ll be cool with you.”
As the officer handcuffed him, he informed Patterson he was just being detained and inquired about his hometown. Patterson identified himself as being from Orlando.
During the arrest, the officer noted a knife allegedly found in Patterson’s car. Patterson also talked with the police about his experience with the Steelers, mentioning an incident where they clocked him at 23 mph and jokingly referred to breaking “both toes.” He seemed to express a desire for the Steelers to have drafted him.
When an officer asked if he played on the Steelers, Patterson explained that he had been invited for a workout with the team.
It wasn’t long before Patterson learned from the officers that the vehicle he was in was reported stolen; he was informed that he would be going to jail and might soon hear from Orlando police.
The arrest was part of a broader investigation, with a charging affidavit stating that police had issued a be-on-the-lookout notice for Patterson and the stolen vehicle associated with an invasion in Orlando, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Patterson, originally from Orlando, played one season at Utah State before transferring to Highland and then finishing at Youngstown State. Although he never participated in an official NFL game, he did catch some passes during preseason.
