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Imago

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February is often called the month of love. But for Rickea Jackson, it turned into anything but that. The WNBA star found herself caught in a troubling off-court situation involving her ex-boyfriend, James Pearce Jr. The Atlanta Falcons linebacker was arrested following an alleged domestic dispute on February 7. Since then, new details about the incident have surfaced…and they paint a far more concerning picture.

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According to fresh reports from ESPN, Rickea Jackson had made at least seven 911 calls in the weeks leading up to the incident where James Pearce Jr. allegedly rammed his Lamborghini SUV into Jackson’s car. During those calls, she reportedly told police she feared she was being stalked and harassed and believed Pearce had even tried to break into her residence earlier.

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As per ESPN, police were repeatedly called to a residence in Doral described as the home of Rickea Jackson between November and the day of his arrest. Police records show officers were dispatched seven different times, though the names of the individuals who contacted authorities were redacted in the reports. Despite the multiple visits, none of the incidents resulted in an arrest.

Here are the incidents listed in the report:

  • November 24: Around 11 p.m., just a day after the Atlanta Falcons played in New Orleans, police were called to respond to a domestic disturbance. According to the report, James Pearce Jr. had arrived at the residence, knocking on the door while repeatedly calling the home’s landline. Rickea Jackson (her name redacted from the report) refused to open the door and told him to leave, prompting authorities to respond to the situation.
  • November 25: It appears Rickea Jackson contacted authorities again the very next day, telling police she believed James Pearce Jr. was “likely going to return to her residence.” According to the report, she had been informed by Pearce’s father that he was on his way. Pearce never ended up arriving, but the situation had already left Jackson feeling unsafe, prompting her to leave the residence for the night.
  • January 13: Police once again responded to a domestic disturbance call at the same address. In a heavily redacted report, James Pearce Jr. was noted as being encountered outside the residence. Officers instructed him to leave with his car and belongings and warned him not to return to the property.
  • January 28: Police responded “in emergency mode” to a reported daytime burglary in progress at the residence. In the heavily redacted report, James Pearce Jr. was identified only as “the subject,” though the exact details of what took place remain unclear.
  • February 1: Police also responded to another domestic disturbance call, though the report offered few specifics beyond noting that the incident took place in a garage. The heavily redacted document further mentioned that other incidents had occurred outside the City of Doral’s jurisdiction, including one claim that James Pearce Jr. had caused someone to miss a flight and another disturbance that reportedly took place during an Uber ride.
  • February 2: According to the report, a security guard told police that James Pearce Jr. had allegedly been stalking his client on multiple occasions over the past several days.
  • February 7: The day of the incident.

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Rickea Jackson’s legal team has also urged the court to dedicate “all possible resources and personnel” to the case, requesting that the matter be resolved “as soon as practicable” to secure justice for Jackson. The WNBA star herself is prepared to fully cooperate if the domestic violence charges move forward to trial.

As things stand, James Pearce Jr. is now facing five felony charges, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, one count of aggravated stalking, fleeing and eluding police officers, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence.

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And this situation now threatens to derail what once looked like a promising NFL career for James Pearce Jr.

Rickea Jackson’s Ex Faces NFL Career in Jeopardy?

Just a couple of days before the alleged incident, James Pearce Jr. had been nominated for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The rookie standout finished the season with 17 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss, ultimately securing a third-place finish in the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. At the time, the future looked incredibly bright for the young linebacker, but right now it is clouded by uncertainty.

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The 22-year-old was later released on a $20,500 bond. James Pearce Jr.’s attorneys say he “maintains his innocence” and urged the public to understand that while allegations can shape a narrative, they are “hardly the full story.” Atlanta Falcons issued a brief statement of their own, saying the organization is “gathering more information” regarding the situation.

Even NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy stated last month that James Pearce Jr.’s arrest would be reviewed under the NFL Personal Conduct Policy. However, any potential outcome will only become clear once the trial concludes. Until then, it would be premature to speculate on what the future might hold.

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Rickea Jackson herself stepped away from the one-on-one tournament in Unrivaled following everything that unfolded last month. However, she eventually returned to the league, where her Breeze BC team made a strong run before being eliminated in the semifinals. The women’s basketball community has continued to rally behind Rickea Jackson, standing firmly in her corner as they await justice in the case.

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