In the weeks leading to February 7, when Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. allegedly rammed his Lamborghini SUV into WNBA player Rickea Jackson’s car in Doral, Florida, multiple instances of misdemeanor came to light.

All the way back on January 13, Pearce Jr. was instructed to stay away from a woman described as his ex-girlfriend in the police reports that ultimately led to Jackson applying for a protection order on February 9. While a permanent injunction hearing is set for April 21 on the petition, Miami-Dade County formally filed the charges on Thursday regarding the early February incident.

According to the latest ruling, Pearce, 22, has been charged with three felonies: aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person. Meanwhile, other charges against him were tweaked or dropped completely.

He also had an arrest charge of felony aggravated stalking, which was changed to a misdemeanor. An arrest charge of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer was dropped. The whole legal saga began after Jackson and Pearce broke up last September, but the NFL player continued to stalk her.

It blew up on February 7, when Pearce pursued Jackson’s vehicle, colliding with it multiple times as she attempted to get to the police station in Doral, Florida. When a police officer tried to step in, Pearce allegedly fled the scene, prompting a police chase that ended with him crashing at an intersection.

He consequently allegedly fled the scene on foot but was apprehended while resisting arrest. Shortly afterward, authorities took Pearce into custody, and he spent the night at a county correctional facility. He secured his release the next day after posting a $20,500 bond on February 8. At that time, the Falcons issued a brief statement addressing the issue.

“We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr. in Miami. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time.”

However, according to ESPN, the Falcons declined to comment on the recent development. The league is reviewing the matter under the NFL Personal Conduct Policy.

The NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy specifies that, “it is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime in a court of law. We are all held to a higher standard and must conduct ourselves in a way that is responsible, promotes the values of the NFL, and is lawful. Players convicted of a crime or subject to a disposition of a criminal proceeding (as defined in this Policy) are subject to discipline.

“But even if the conduct does not result in a criminal conviction, players found to have engaged in any of the following conduct will be subject to discipline.”

Pearce could be liable on the following grounds of the personal conduct policy if the NFL finds him guilty:

• Stalking, harassment, or similar forms of intimidation;
• Crimes against law enforcement, such as obstruction, resisting arrest, or harming a police officer or other law enforcement officer;
• Conduct that poses a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person.

The league deals with such instances more often than not and takes strict decisions against the personnel involved. If the charges hold up in court, Pearce could face felony charges. As for the NFL, it can punish Pearce by prohibiting him from playing a particular number of games without pay, or he could potentially see his football career end. For now, the investigation continues.

“We continue to monitor all developments in the matter, which remains under review of the personal conduct policy,” an NFL spokesperson said on Thursday.

Last season, the NFL suspended Kansas City Chiefs’ Rashee Rice for the initial few games. He is currently facing further charges, and the league can take more actions against him as well. The WNBA player was meanwhile forced to take legal action for her own safety.

The WNBA star filed an injunction request in Miami-Dade County on February 9, seeking protection from Pearce. In her filing, Jackson described serious fear following the encounter and urged the court to take action. “James will kill me,” she said.

Currently, the temporary court order prohibits Pearce from reaching out to Jackson, getting within 500 feet of her residence or job, or coming closer than 100 feet to her car.

The February 7 incident was the culmination of a pattern of behavior, with police having been called multiple times in the preceding months.

Rickea Jackson called 911 seven times to stop James Pearce Jr.

The February 7 chase was preceded by at least seven police calls regarding stalking and harassment by Pearce between November 2025 and February 2026, establishing a pattern of escalating behavior.

To begin with, police first responded on November 24, 2025, after a domestic disturbance report late at night. The officials reported that Pearce arrived at a residence and refused to leave the property. Later, on January 13, 2026, police issued a formal warning instructing him to stay away.

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On January 28, two separate calls came in. One involved a daytime burglary report where witnesses said they saw Pearce leaving the area. The other claimed he damaged a door while attempting to force his way inside.

Security guards reported on both February 1 and February 2 that Pearce appeared to be following the victim. On February 7, Pearce allegedly followed Rickea Jackson, and the incident quickly spread across social media.

With Pearce facing multiple felonies and the NFL’s investigation ongoing, his future with the Falcons and his career in the league are now in serious jeopardy.