Miami

Former University of Miami and NFL Tight End Richard Gordon Arrested on Battery Charges

A former University of Miami Hurricanes and NFL player was arrested on battery charges after he allegedly punched his girlfriend, police said.

Richard Gordon, 29, was arrested in Miami Gardens Tuesday on charges of battery and battery on a law enforcement officer, according to a police report.

Gordon appeared in court Wednesday where he was ordered held on $6,000 bond. It's unknown if he's hired an attorney.

According to the arrest report, officers responded to the area of Northwest 167th Street and Northwest 17th Avenue Tuesday morning after a passerby reported seeing a man punching a woman and pushing her out of a Mercedes SUV.

When officers arrived they found Gordon's girlfriend, who said she lives with him and has a 3-year-old child with him, the report said. The woman said Gordon started acting crazy and flipped out while she was driving him to pick up his car near Tootsie's strip club, the report said.

The woman said Gordon punched her arm several times and slapped her in the face, the report said. The woman had redness, swelling and bruising, the report noted.

Officers found Gordon's car parked across the street from Tootsie's locked but with an AR-15 rifle in plain view inside, the report said. The report said about 13 grams of marijuana were found inside the car, along with a holster and two magazines. The car and gun were impounded.

When officers found Gordon nearby and he was taken into custody, he yelled at an officer and kicked a car door, which hit the officer in her arm and shoulder, the report said.

The report said the AR-15 was going to be used to shoot up the Office nightclub after a confrontation Gordon had the night before. Gordon's girlfriend said he hadn't slept in days and has been Baker Acted three times in the past, the report said.

Gordon, a tight end from Miami who attended Norland High School, appeared in 49 games with the Hurricanes between 2006 and 2010. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft and has bounced around the league, with brief stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens. He was released by the Broncos last month and is an unsigned free agent.

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