The representative for former NFL player Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones has accused authorities in Northern Kentucky of misusing their power, asserting that Jones is innocent after the ex-Bengals cornerback was apprehended in the Cincinnati suburb of Covington on Saturday.
‘The recent apprehension of Adam “Pacman” Jones in Covington, Kentucky, serves as another instance of excessive policing and the systemic problems that afflict our justice system,’ began the statement from agent Peter Schaffer. ‘Adam violated no laws aside from invoking his right to inquire about the reason for his detention—a fundamental right every citizen should be able to exercise without fear of reprisals.’
Jones, a 13-season NFL veteran, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning on numerous charges, including third-degree assault on an officer, public intoxication, and second-degree disorderly conduct.
The 41-year-old was booked just before 2am into Kenton County jail, according to the court log. He was released at around 11:30am after posting a $10,000 bond. Jones is due back in court on Wednesday.
‘Initially, officers claimed he was being arrested for assault and then shifted to public intoxication (which, in itself, is not a crime in many jurisdictions unless it leads to dangerous behavior), and finally settled on disorderly conduct — simply for asking why he was being detained,’ the statement continued.
‘This pattern of escalating and inconsistent charges is a clear abuse of authority and demonstrates a troubling trend of police officers prioritizing their own discretion over constitutional rights.’
The 41-year-old, pictured in his mugshot ,was detained on multiple charges, including assault on a police officer, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct
Schaffer insisted his client is ‘innocent until proven guilty’ before arguing that Jones’ past is ‘being used against him in the court of public opinion.’
‘The repeated mischaracterization of his encounters with law enforcement—often stemming from minor incidents—only reinforces the need for accountability in policing,’ Schaffer wrote.
The arrest is just the latest in a storied history with the law for Jones, who enjoyed stints with the Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys , Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos before calling it quits in 2018.
It marked at least the fourth time since 2021 that Jones has been arrested and the second in almost seven months . In each of the past three years, he has been booked on a public intoxication charge.
Last November, Jones was taken into custody in the early hours of Saturday morning after watching Jake Paul ‘s victory over Mike Tyson. Jones was arrested on a number of charges outside Loews Arlington Hotel – a short walk away from the fight venue – including public intoxication, resisting arrest, evading arrest and assault on a police officer.
In December 2023, Jones, pled guilty to a disorderly conduct charge in a Kentucky courtroom after a meltdown on an airplane.
Appearing in a Boone County courtroom to issue a plea, Jones apologized to the officers he screamed at in the midst of an outburst while on a plane at Covington Airport in Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.
As a part of his plea deal, the charges of alcohol intoxication and making a terrorist threat he was facing were dropped.
Jones was sentenced to 30 days in jail, but suspended imposing the sentence – which meant he walked free and wouldn’t have to serve any time if he stayed out of trouble for the next two years. It is unclear how Saturday’s arrest will affect the sentencing.
The most serious incident in recent years came in 2021 when he plead no contest to two counts of misdemeanor accounts for an altercation at a Cincinnati bar. He ultimately served 18 days in jail, Hamilton County court records show.
The former NFL star was arrested last November after watching the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight
Pacman Jones has been a staunch supporter of Donald Trump in recent years
He notoriously got into a brawl in Atlanta Airport in 2008, although police later determined he was not the aggressor.
In October 2008, he was involved in an altercation with his bodyguard in a Dallas hotel, which led to him being suspended four games by the NFL for breaking its personal conduct policy.
In February 2019, police arrested Jones at a casino in Indiana after allegations of cheating on the blackjack table he was seated at.
It is reported that Jones ‘immediately became verbally combative and disorderly’ and he was booked at 3am on charges of disorderly conduct, intimidation, resisting arrest and public intoxication.
Schaffer ended his statement by reiterating his client’s innocence: ‘We call for a full and transparent review of this arrest, and we stand firm in the belief that no one should be treated as guilty before they’ve even had their day in court.’
He is most famous for his time spent with Cincinnati, playing seven NFL seasons with the team between 2010 and 2017. During that time, he was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2015 and was a first-team All-Pro in 2014.
In addition to his own three kids, Jones adopted the children of former Bengals and West Virginia teammate Chris Henry, who died in a 2009 traffic accident.
