Malik McDowell, a former NFL player who was arrested twice in the last year, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges stemming from his drunken brawl with police at a Michigan gas station in February.
Malik McDowell, a former NFL draft pick who was arrested twice in the last year, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges stemming from his drunken brawl with police at a Michigan gas station in February.
According to Oakland Circuit Court records, McDowell pleaded guilty to assault, resisting arrest, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He also admitted to receiving and concealing stolen property on Wednesday after being charged with driving a stolen truck in April.
McDowell’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 13. He faces up to two years in prison and fines on the resisting arrest charge alone, according to The Detroit News, not to mention up to five years for receiving the stolen truck.
McDowell’s NFL career was already on hold before the February incident.
The Detroit native had been a highly-touted second-round pick in 2017, but after signing a four-year, $6.95 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks, McDowell got into an ATV accident in 2017 and was placed on reserve/did not report list.
At one point the officer took out his taser and pointed it at McDowell, while demanding that Malik McDowell lay down on his chest because he was under arrest
McDowell was already on his knees, but rather than leaning forward and following instructions, he leaned backwards against the door
After several warnings, the officer responded by shooting his taser at McDowell, who was unaffected and simply ripped out the probes
McDowell then rose to his feet, grabbed the officer by the hand and the two began wrestling.
Ultimately the team waived him with a non-football injury, costing him millions in the process.
McDowell’s arrest became national news after video emerged showing McDowell fighting with several police officers at a gas station in Lathrup Village, Michigan. His blood-alcohol level was later revealed to have been over twice the legal limit.
Not only did McDowell physically confront police, but he also attempted to grab one officer’s gun during the altercation. He was eventually shot with an electric stun gun, but still managed to continue his brawl with police.
The incident began in the early hours of February 18 when the former Michigan State star was pulled over for driving his 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee recklessly and spinning out on the snowy road, according to Detroit’s Channel 4.
He pulled into the gas station, where he was followed by police, who then demanded he get back into his car.
McDowell refused and demanded to see the officer’s supervisor – something the 6foot6, 300-pound defensive lineman repeated no fewer than 50 times.
‘Get back in the car,’ the officer said, as seen in the police dash cam footage. ‘Get back in the car. Have a seat in your car. Have a seat in your car. Have a seat in your car, sir.’
‘Why?’ McDowell responded. ‘Get me your supervisor.’
This back and forth went on for several minutes.
When the frustrated officer announced that McDowell was under arrest, the former second-round pick resisted and walked into the gas station as the cop tried to stop him
Eventually a team of officers was called in to facilitate the McDowell’s arrest
Eventually the frustrated officer announced that McDowell was under arrest, but the former second-round pick resisted and walked into the gas station as the cop unsuccessfully attempted to thwart his progress.
The struggle continued inside the gas station, where McDowell and the officer began fighting.
Footage from inside was recorded on the gas station’s security camera.
At one point the officer took out his taser and pointed it at McDowell, while demanding that he lay down on his chest.
Malik McDowell made a big impression before the 2017 NFL Draft, ultimately getting picked in the second round by the Seattle Seahawks. However, an ATV accident resulted in an injury, and he was released
McDowell was already on his knees, but rather than leaning forward and following instructions, he leaned backwards against the door.
After several warnings, the officer responded by shooting his taser at McDowell, who was unaffected and simply ripped out the probes.
McDowell then rose to his feet, grabbed the officer by the hand and the two began wrestling.
At this point it was the officer who was demanding for his supervisor.
‘I need a supervisor,’ he yelled as he wrestled McDowell onto his back.
According to Detroit’s Channel 4, the officer claimed McDowell reached for his gun, but the footage is not quite conclusive in that regard.
Eventually another officer arrived and the two struggled to get McDowell into hand cuffs.
The second officer also claimed McDowell attempted to take her gun.
According to police, there was about $1,500 worth of damage done to the gas station.
In June, McDowell was arraigned for an April incident in which he is charged with receiving a stolen pickup truck with $74,000.
He claims he bought it off the street for $3,000.
Police located McDowell using a GPS device on the truck.
He was previously arrested for driving under the influence in 2018 – a charge that could affect the punishment he will receive from a Michigan judge next month.
Although McDowell’s NFL career has yet to take off, he was a star at Michigan State