NFL free agent Earl Thomas arrested for violating protective order after warrant issued last month
Former NFL safety Earl Thomas was arrested Friday for a violation of a court protective order after a warrant was issued last month.
Thomas was in his hometown of Orange, Texas, and was taken into custody after someone recognized him at a restaurant, according to WFAA.com.
The warrant was issued on April 27 after authorities said Thomas violated the protective order more than twice by sending messages to a woman and her children. In Texas, that is a third-degree felony.
The order issued in May 2021 mandates that Thomas only communicate with the woman through a co-parenting phone app, which the woman said Thomas has not downloaded.
The woman told police that Thomas started to send threatening messages via text. One which was sent April 18, allegedly had Thomas saying he would "kick [her] ass," and he had acquired two handguns.
His wife was arrested in May 2020 in a domestic violence incident after telling police she pointed a loaded weapon at Thomas after finding him in bed with another woman.
Thomas, 33, is a free agent and has been out of football since 2020, spending the first nine seasons of this career with the Seattle Seahawks and one season with the Baltimore Ravens. He is a three-time first-team All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Earl Thomas: NFL free agent arrested for violating protective order
