Former San Francisco 49er and Stanford alum Richard Sherman was released from jail following his arrest earlier this week on a variety of charges. He must appear in Court on Friday. His troubles may just be beginning as the King County District Attorney decides which criminal charges to pursue.
Sherman’s actions are exacting an extreme toll on his family as the above photo of his wife Ashley Moss in Court earlier today clearly shows.
Excerpted from San Francisco Chronicle 7.15.2021
Former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman was released from custody Thursday, hours after audio emerged of a 911 call in which Sherman’s wife said he drank two bottles of hard alcohol and threatened to kill himself late Tuesday night.
A caller to Redmond police dispatch said Sherman was “on anti-depressants and had been drinking,” the report said, and one of the occupants of the house “bear-sprayed” Sherman.
At one point, Sherman’s wife Ashley Moss told the dispatcher that Sherman was leaving. Moss can be heard repeatedly and frantically shouting, “Richard, please stop!” Moments later, she told the dispatcher, “Ma’am, this is a f—ing emergency. I need officers here now!”
Sherman was arrested early Wednesday morning for allegedly trying to break into the Redmond, Wash., home of his in-laws. The incident occurred after he fled a single-car crash, authorities said, that caused significant damage to his 2016 black Mercedes.
King County District Court Judge Fa’amomoi Masaniai found probable cause for four alleged offenses: second-degree criminal trespass, third-degree malicious mischief, resisting arrest and driving under the influence. The first two charges carry a domestic violence designation because they occurred at the home of relatives.
“We’re investigating the circumstances related to these allegations by the state,” Sherman’s attorney, Cooper Offenbecher, told reporters outside the courtroom Thursday. “Richard is thankful to have the support of his family and friends, and we look forward to vigorously defending this case in court.”
All four potential charges against Sherman are misdemeanors or gross (more serious) misdemeanors.
Earlier, audio of the initial 911 call by Sherman’s wife, Ashley Moss, surfaced on several media outlets. The call conveyed her increasingly urgent tone as she spoke with a dispatcher from the family’s home in Maple Valley, Wash., before Sherman abruptly left.
“I need officers to my house now,” the woman, who identified herself as Sherman’s wife, said on the call. “My husband is drunk and belligerent and threatened to kill himself. … I need officers here now. He’s being aggressive.”
Moss said Sherman wrestled with her uncle and sent text messages to friends saying he planned to hang himself. She briefly became emotional while asking the dispatcher to tell police, “Please don’t shoot,” because Sherman said he would try to fight if officers showed up.
Sherman did not have any weapons at the time, Moss said on the call.
Also on Thursday, the Redmond, Wash., police department released its case report on Sherman’s arrest. The report said Moss called Redmond’s police dispatch line and stated her husband was “crazy at the house” of her parents. Moss said her father, Raymond Moss — a 6-foot, 6-inch former Washington State Patrol trooper — had a pistol.
Raymond Moss told police Sherman was not welcome inside the house, according to the report, and Sherman had refused numerous requests to leave. At one point, Moss said in the report, Sherman “backed away from the door and lowered his shoulder before charging into the door frame numerous times, causing damage.”
At Thursday’s court hearing, Judge Masaniai agreed to the prosecuting attorney’s request for a domestic violence protective order protecting Raymond Moss. Sherman also is not allowed to possess any weapons or consume alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.
In February, King County prosecutors and the sheriff obtained an “extreme risk protection order” for Sherman, the Associated Press reported. That barred him from having guns after a judge determined he posed a danger to himself or others.
Sherman, 33, spent the past three seasons with the 49ers after playing seven years with the Seattle Seahawks. He became a free agent after the 2020 season and has not signed with an NFL team for the upcoming season.
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