Police were called multiple times on Falcons’ James Pearce before Rickea Jackson incident

A disturbing pattern has come to light around Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. in the months leading up to the NFL player’s alleged domestic violence incident with Los Angeles Sparks star Rickea Jackson in February that landed Pearce in cuffs. 

In the months before his Feb. 7 arrest, police had been called at least seven times by his unidentified girlfriend over fears that she was being harassed and stalked by the Falcons player, according to a troubling report by ESPN. 

And in January, that escalated to concerns that Pearce was trying to break into the unnamed female’s home.

The names of those who made calls to police were redacted and Monday’s report did not name Jackson specifically as the woman involved in the incidents preceding Feb. 7, where Pearce allegedly used his vehicle to strike Jackson’s multiple times. 

After that incident, she told police that they had recently broken up after being together for three years. 

The police reports obtained by ESPN span from late November through the day that Pearce allegedly rammed his car into Jackson’s in Doral, Florida, in a terrifying episode that resulted in Pearce being arrested on felony battery and stalking charges. 

The new information published showed an allegedly escalating pattern of incidents, which included one on Jan. 28, where cops responded to a woman’s residence in Doral after she was “in fear” after Pearce had damaged the front door of her home.

The woman told responding officers that she had not wanted Pearce to enter the residence, which she had shared with the football player occasionally, and she opted to go to a hotel to “avoid further incidents,” the police report stated. 

Pearce was not there when law enforcement arrived. 

Officers responded to a separate incident earlier that same day that was reported as a daytime burglary in progress with Pearce described as “the subject.”

The police report was redacted and it was not clear what had happened, though it did say that a woman, who was listed as “Ms. Jackson,” had told police that she had seen Pearce leaving before police had gotten to the scene.

ESPN found that the first incident occurred on Nov. 24 around 11 p.m. when police responded to a domestic disturbance after Pearce had allegedly had been knocking on her door and called the landline several times. 

The unnamed woman did not let Pearce in and he left 20 minutes before authorities arrived, however, they were called again hours later on Nov. 25, when she became concerned that Pearce was “likely going to return to her residence again” after his dad called her to let her know that Pearce was coming. 

He did not show, but the woman was spooked over the incident. 

Police “advised” Pearce “not to return to the residence” on Jan. 13 after being called to a domestic disturbance incident and authorities found themselves back there on Feb. 1. 

The police report for the Feb. 1 incident was heavily redacted; however, ESPN reported that it appeared to indicate that it had occurred inside a garage and that “other incidents have occurred outside of the City of Doral jurisdiction.”

Officers were back a day later and a security guard told officers that Pearce was stalking his client. 

Pearce found himself under arrest days later after he allegedly rear-ended Jackson’s car and then struck her vehicle head-on while she tried to escape him by driving toward the Doral Police Department. 

Police say Pearce attempted to drive away after they arrived on the scene, allegedly getting back in his white Lamborghini SUV, shutting the door when an officer opened it and driving off. 

He is said to have struck an officer in the left knee when he fled and then crashed the SUV at an intersection, before fleeing on foot, with officers eventually apprehending him. 

Pearce has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, one count of aggravated stalking, fleeing and eluding police officers, and aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer – all of which are felonies. 

Pearce’s legal team claims their client is innocent. 

“We look forward to working with the State Attorney’s Office in fully investigating this case and uncovering the truth,” Pearce’s lawyers Jacob Nunez, Yale Sanford and Joshua Cohen said in a statement. “Mr. Pearce maintains his innocence and urges the public to understand that while allegations have the power to shape a narrative, that it is hardly the full, complete story.

“We look forward to vigorously defending our Client and remain confident that he will continue contributing positively to both his team and the community he serves so well.”