Arrest warrant issued for Tampa Bay Buccaneers Aqib Talib in domestic incident
An arrest warrant has been issued in Garland, Texas for Aqib Talib, cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, after an investigation by police in a domestic incident, according to a local newspaper in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Talib is to turn himself in later in the week due to the warrant for charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with bail set at $25,000. Okolo Talib, Talib’s mother, was also involved in the incident and turned herself in on Tuesday, booked for
being a felon in possession of a firearm with her bail set at $30,000. As of Tuesday, she was still in jail. The charges against Aqib Talib can be punished by between 5 to 20 years in prison since they are second-degree felonies.
“We are deeply troubled by the serious charges filed against Aqib Talib,” Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said in a statement released by the team. “Due to current labor circumstances, we will withhold any further comment or action.”
Police investigated a domestic disturbance call on 21 March, 2011 in which there were gunshots heard after people were fighting. Police in Garland said that both Talib and his mother fired shots at Shannon Billings but did not injure him, while Talib also
physically assaulted him. Billings is reported to be Talib’s sister’s boyfriend.
Earlier on the same day, Billings had been charged with interference with a 911 emergency call and assault after being suspected in another disturbance. Even though teams cannot speak with players or contact them in any way during the ongoing lockout, National
Football League spokesman Greg Aiello said that Talib could be punished under their personal conduct policy once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.
“The conduct and drug policies are currently suspended,” Aiello said. “However, any violations of law that occur during the work stoppage will be reviewed for potential discipline.”
The first round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft has had run-ins with the law before this incident. In 2009, Talib was arrested for battery and resisting arrest after assaulting a taxi driver in Florida, resulting in him being suspended for one game by the NFL
Commissioner Roger Goodell. Talib made a settlement with the taxi driver outside of court.
He was also involved in another incident at the NFL Rookie Symposium in 2008, when he had a fight with teammate Cory Boyd. Less than a year later, Talib had a fight with teammate Donald Penn and accidentally hit Torrie Cox, his other teammate, in the face
with his helmet.
Since he was drafted in 2008, Talib has started in 28 of the 41 games that he has played in, including all 26 that he has played in since 2009.
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