Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Ex-Dolphin tackle Albert arrested on felony charge
Former Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Branden Albert was arrested at an Atlanta jewelry store on Wednesday and is being charged with a felony for willful obstruction of a law officer.
Albert, a South Florida resident, is facing a felony charge of willful obstruction of law enforcement officers with use of threats or violence and second degree criminal damage to property according to the Atlanta Police Department’s incident report.
According to TMZ, Albert, 33, walked to the back of Icebox Jewelry store, where customers are not allowed, and was asked by the store’s owner to leave.
He then punched a jewelry cabinet, damaging it, TMZ reported. According to the police, when confronted by an off-duty Atlanta Police Department officer, Albert attempted to leave the store against the police officer’s orders.
The officer deployed his taser, according to the incident report. Albert fell, pulled out the taser prongs, returned to his feet and again tried to leave, tackling the officer when he gave chase. Additional units then assisted in Albert’s arrest, according to the report.
Upon arriving at the police station, Albert congratulated the officer on “a good tussle” and apologized for his behavior, the incident report said. However, according to the report, his attitude then quickly changed, as he began using profanity and repeatedly insisting that he did nothing wrong and should be released.
He was still in a Fulton County, Ga., jail as of early Friday morning, according to the county website.
Albert, a two-time Pro Bowl pick who played three seasons with the Dolphins, was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars this time last year for a 2018 seventhround pick. But he surprisingly retired from the NFL in late July after Jacksonville backed out of a contract extension they proposed, which was what made him greenlight the trade to the Jaguars.
Albert attempted to come out of retirement around midseason last year and met with two teams, but never signed a contract. At this time it is unclear if Albert, who has played 120 games over the course of nine seasons, plans to play football in 2018.