Ex-NFL DB Sutton turns himself in
Warrant issued for domestic violence
Cameron Sutton has turned himself in, ending a weeks-long search for the former NFL defensive back who was wanted on a domestic violence warrant.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff 's Office announced the 29-yearold Sutton arrived at a jail in Tampa, Fla., on Sunday night, nearly a week after it said his lawyer told authorities the former Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers standout would turn himself in.
Sutton's initial arrest warrant charged him with a felony, but prosecutors said Monday he was being formally charged with misdemeanour battery, which carries a maximum one-year jail sentence. Sutton was released from jail Monday on his own recognizance, the state attorney's office said.
The sheriff's department responded to a call about alleged domestic violence in progress involving Sutton and a female around 5 a.m. on March 7. Nearly two weeks ago, the sheriff's office asked for help in finding Sutton.
Soon thereafter, Lions president Rod Wood said Sutton had been at the team's training facility just outside of Detroit.
“We learned about the warrant at the same time everybody else did on social media,” Wood told WJBK-TV Fox 2 last Monday.
“We were able to speak to Cam because he was actually in our building. We found him. He was down with our strength staff. He kind of showed up unexpectedly to work out.”
The Lions released Sutton on March 21 after news of the warrant surfaced.
Detroit signed Sutton to a US$33-million, three-year contract a year ago. He helped the franchise win a division title for the first time in three decades along with two playoff games in one post-season for the first time since 1957.
He started all 17 regular season games, making a career-high 65 tackles and one interception.