Davone Bess, the former wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns was arrested in Arizona on Monday morning following a five-hour standoff with law enforcers. Based on the reports, the arrest came after he fled from a traffic stop and agitated the officers.
According to USA Today, Bess was driving around the town of Gilbert at midnight without his lights on. This prompted a patrol officer to ask Bess to pull over.
However, the former NFL player refused to stop and exit his vehicle. He then rolled down his window and made a hand gesture which seemed to threaten the officer.
"A Gilbert patrol officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a silver Mercedes driving without headlights on," the Gilbert Police Department said in a statement according to Pro Football Talk.
"The vehicle pulled into a parking lot of a sporting goods store but continued driving slowly through the lot and would not stop for the officer," it continued. "The driver, later identified as Davone Bess, then rolled down his window and began making gestures with his hand shaped like a gun and motioning that he was shooting the officer."
According to the department, Bess continued to ignore the commands of the patrol officer and immediately drove away from the parking lot. Back-up law enforcers were then called in to pursue Bess who went straight to his home.
While inside his house, Bess reportedly ignored the commands of officers. Also, from time to time, he would stand in front of the door and window holding a knife to his own neck. The department noted that other members of Bess' family exited the house during the standoff between the former pro athlete and the police.
Immediately after obtaining a warrant to enter the home, a K-9 unit was released which then allowed the law enforcers to apprehend Bess.
"A short time later Bess again opened the front door, however at no point did Bess comply with anything with negotiators were asking him to do," the department said. "For Bess' own safety it was decided to get him in custody as quickly as possible and safely as possible."
"At this point a police K-9 was released and the K-9 bit Bess on the left forearm just inside the front door of the residence," it added.
According to the police department, due to the nature of the incident and Bess' actions, he was subjected to mental evaluation. He was also taken to a hospital to treat his bit wounds.
