Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. is facing four charges for an incident involving WNBA player Rickea Jackson, according to court documents viewed by The Post.
Pearce, 22, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person, all of which are felonies.
An initial felony charge of aggravated stalking was later changed to a misdemeanor, and an arrest charge of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer was dropped.
On Feb. 7, Pearce allegedly followed Jackson’s car, smashing into her vehicle with his white Lamborghini SUV multiple times while she was trying to drive to the police station in Doral, Fla.
Pearce then fled in his vehicle once confronted by a police officer before eventually crashing at an intersection, where he then tried to evade the cops on foot, arrest records show.
He was arrested and spent the night in a county correctional center before being released on a $20,500 bond on Feb. 8.
Jackson, who plays for the Sparks, filed an injunction for a protective order against Pearce on Feb. 9.
According to documents seen by ESPN, Jackson worried that Pearce “will kill me” and was in “fear of my life.”
Jackson’s request was granted temporarily, with a permanent injunction hearing being set for April 21.
Pearce is prohibited from making any contact with Jackson, 24, or coming within 500 feet of her home or place of employment and 100 feet of her car, ESPN reported.
Both Pearce and Jackson played their respective sports at Tennessee and dated for roughly three years before breaking up shortly before the troubling incident.
Jackson also alleges that Pearce offered her $200,000 to stay together, and that the fear for her safety grew worse after their breakup.
Police in Florida have responded to at least seven other 911 calls made about Pearce from someone who was described as an ex-girlfriend.
An NFL spokesperson told ESPN that “we continue to monitor all developments in the matter which remains under review of the personal conduct policy.”
