Sherman officially charged

Ex-Seahawk accused of DUI, burglary, mischief

SEATTLE — Prosecutors have charged former Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers star Richard Sherman after police said he crashed his SUV in a construction zone and tried to break into his in-laws’ home.

Sherman, who was released from jail Thursday, was expected to appear in court Friday for arraignment on five criminal charges: driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless endangerment of road workers, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest and malicious mischief. They are all misdemeanors, punishable by up to 90 days in jail, or gross misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year.

Sherman was belligerent, had been drinking heavily and spoke of killing himself when he left his home in the Seattle suburb of Maple Valley late Tuesday, according to police reports. His wife, Ashley Sherman, called 911 to try to have police stop him.

He was arrested early Wednesday after police said he crashed his car in a construction zone along a busy highway east of Seattle and then tried to break into his in-laws’ home in the suburb of Redmond. Workers said the driver entered the closed construction zone at 60 to 70 mph and sped off after being confronted, shooting sparks from a wheel, then abandoned the disabled vehicle nearby.

Sherman’s father-in-law, Raymond Moss, told officers that he armed himself with a handgun and fired pepperspray at the NFL cornerback to protect his family as Sherman tried to bust in the door of Moss’ home with his shoulder.

Another of Moss’ daughters pleaded with a 911 operator for officers to arrive quickly and told her children to hide in a bathroom behind a shower curtain, according to audio of the call released Thursday.

Officers were cautious about arresting Sherman because of his size and belligerence, according to police.

After trying to deescalate the situation, they decided to use less-lethal force after warning Sherman they would if he didn’t comply with orders.

They could not use a Taser because they worried about igniting whatever chemical Sherman’s father-in-law had sprayed him with and could not fire a bean-bag round because they were too close to him. Instead, they released a police dog, which bit his ankle and caused a minor cut, as other officers wrestled with him on the ground, the reports say.

In February, prosecutors and the sheriff obtained an “extreme risk protection order” for Sherman, which barred him from having guns after a judge determined he posed a danger to himself or others.

Ashley Sherman told police her husband had been on anti-depressants and was receiving mental health counseling.