Warrant issued for Seahawks’ Dunbar in Florida, lawyer claims proof of innocence
May 14, 2020, 4:39 PM | Updated: May 15, 2020, 2:39 pm
The Seahawks acquired cornerback Quinton Dunbar in a trade in March. (Getty)
(Getty)
Updated at 2:13 p.m., Friday, May 15: A warrant has been issued by the Miramar (Fla.) Police Department for new Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar, who has been accused of four counts of armed robbery with a firearm. As of early afternoon on May 15, Dunbar has not turned himself in, but his lawyer has said he and Dunbar have proof that the cornerback wasn’t involved according to the Miami Herald.
Dunbar is being accused along with New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker, who is being charged with four counts of armed robbery with a firearm and four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.
The news was first reported Thursday afternoon by TMZ Sports. The Miramar Police Twitter account followed up shortly after, confirming the report.
(1/2) A warrant to arrest has been issued for Deandre Baker, of the @Giants (four counts of Armed Robbery with a Firearm and four counts of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm.) Quinton Dunbar of the @Seahawks also has a warrant to arrest for four counts of Armed Robbery with a pic.twitter.com/vDDWMjYDaO
— Miramar Police (@MiramarPD) May 14, 2020
(2/2) Firearm. Charges stem from an incident that occurred on May 13, 2020 in Miramar. A copy of the warrant and affidavit can be located at: https://t.co/uG5qWq97rX pic.twitter.com/fDm1YkOuTR
— Miramar Police (@MiramarPD) May 14, 2020
According to a report by ESPN’s Brady Henderson, representatives for at least one of the charged players has been in discussion about turning themselves in with the Miramar PD.
The Seahawks released a statement earlier Thursday evening, saying they are aware of the situation and “will defer comment to league investigators and local authorities.”
Statement from a @Seahawks Spokesperson:
We are aware of the situation involving Quinton Dunbar and still gathering information. We will defer all further comment to league investigators and local authorities.
— Seahawks PR (@seahawksPR) May 15, 2020
According to the TMZ Sports report, the alleged incident occurred at a cookout Wednesday night with Baker pulling out a semi-automatic firearm. Dunbar then “assisted in taking watches and other valuables at the direction of Baker.” Per TMZ Sports’ story, law enforcement said Baker, Dunbar and a third man left with $7,000 in cash and three valuable watches including an $18,000 Rolex and $25,000 Hublot. The police report also states that Baker directed the third unidentified assailant to shoot an attendant of the cookout, though there is no mention of shots fired in the police report. You can read the police statement at this link.
Per the police report, one of the alleged victims said he had met Baker and Dunbar approximately two days before at a party in Miami where the pair had lost about $70,000 in high-stakes card games and other forms of gamblin (Miramar is a suburb of Miami). TMZ Sports also says there are conflicting reports about whether Dunbar had a gun during the alleged incident. The police report states that witnesses said they did not see Dunbar with a firearm during the incident but they “did see and hear him directing others to take valuables.”
According to the Miami Herald, Michael Grieco, Dunbar’s attorney, said Dunbar has letters from alleged victims of the robbery that say he wasn’t involved. Grieco told Fox Sports radio host Andy Slater just how upset he was with Miramar police about the warrant.
JUST IN: Seahawks CB Quinton Dunbar, accused of armed robbery, has letters from the alleged victims saying he was not involved.
“I can’t believe Miramar PD did a virtual touchdown dance without investigating further,” his attorney Michael Grieco tells me.
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) May 15, 2020
“All of the affidavits indicate my client is innocent,” Greico said in the Miami Herald story. Per the paper, Grieco was upset that the police department tagged the Seahawks’ official Twitter account when posting about the arrest warrant.
“I have never in my career seen a police department so excited about arresting a celebrity,” the lawyer said.
Slater joined 710 ESPN Seattle’s Tom, Jake and Stacy Friday afternoon and said that Grieco told him that he tried to settle the issue with law enforcement in a way that wouldn’t require Dunbar to turn himself in due to the statements that they had from alleged victims. Slater said Grieco told him that the request was denied and that police still want Dunbar to turn himself in, which he has yet to do. Slater said Grieco’s discussions with law enforcement on that issue occurred on Friday.
Dunbar spoke to members of the Seattle media Thursday morning in a virtual press conference, the day after the alleged incident.
The Seahawks acquired Dunbar in March through a trade with Washington. He is entering his sixth season in the NFL.
Follow 710Sports.com’s Brent Stecker on Twitter.
