Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Lucky Whitehead was arrested on a misdemeanor petty larceny charge following a shoplifting incident in Virginia in June.
Whitehead, 25, was also arrested for failing to appear for a court hearing on July 6.
The wideout was arrested in the early morning hours of June 22 after being accused of shoplifting less than $200 worth of merchandise from a convenience store in Woodbridge, Virginia, according to Prince William County records. Police responded to a call from a convenience store employee who claimed Whitehead ran out of the store without paying for some merchandise. Authorities located the receiver in the parking lot and arrested him shortly afterward.
A warrant for Whitehead’s arrest was also issued after he failed to appear for his July 6 arraignment. He is next scheduled to appear in court on August 10.
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Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said he learned of Whitehead’s arrest while on the practice field Monday and met with him briefly.
“We will do what’s in the best interest of the Dallas Cowboys,” Garrett said. He also added that the team is “gathering information and will respond accordingly,” and that he believed the receiver could be released.
Whitehead is entering his third season in Dallas after signing undrafted out of Florida Atlantic in 2015. He recorded three catches for 48 yards last season. He has rushed 20 times for 189 yards and caught nine passes for 64 yards, and has also been used a punt/kick returner.
The wideout made headlines last week when he announced on social media that his dog Blitz was kidnapped and was being held for ransom. He later announced that the dog had been returned unharmed.
Whitehead’s arrest is the latest in a series of legal scandals involving Cowboys players this offseason.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott was investigated last week for an incident at a Dallas bar on July 16 that left one man with a nose injury. Local police suspended their probe due to lack of sufficient evidence or witnesses, and also because they were unable to locate the victim. Elliott could also potentially face punishment from the NFL following allegations of a domestic violence incident last July in Columbus, Ohio.
Two other Cowboys players have also faced trouble this summer: Linebacker Damien Wilson was arrested July 4 on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, while rookie cornerback Jourdan Lewis recently appeared in court due to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge.
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 25: Lucky Whitehead #13 of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on September 25, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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