Kellen Winslow Jr’s lawyer said he ’emphatically denies’ allegations of burglary
Former NFL tight end Kellen Winslow Jr, 34, was arrested Thursday afternoon for an alleged burglary at a mobile home park in Southern California.
However, his attorney Harvey Weinberg said Winslow ’emphatically denies’ any burglary attempt and said he was only shopping for a home for his mother-in-law when a neighbor ‘overreacted’.
The former Pro Bowler and the namesake of the legendary San Diego Chargers tight end was seen walking onto someone’s property at a mobile home park north of San Diego.
Winslow was confronted by a neighbor and fled the scene in a black SUV, according to The San Diego Union Tribune.
After speaking with the neighbor, authorities eventually arrested Winslow and he stayed in police custody for five hours before posting bail.
He said he was there shopping for a home for his mother-in-law when a neighbor overrated and told police he was burglarizing the house
After a remarkable college career at the University of Miami (left), Winslow was taken by the Cleveland Browns with the sixth-overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft
Authorities responded to a possible burglary call at Park Encinitas Mobile Home Park on Thursday, where they spoke to a neighbor who allegedly saw Winslow burglarize a home
‘It came down to a neighbor overreacting,’ his publicist, Denise White, CEO of EAG Sport Management, said in an email cited by a local Fox affiliate Saturday.
White says Winslow was looking for a home for his wife’s mother and that his wife attends church with the elderly couple who owned the home in question.
His lawyer released a statement that read: ‘He would have no need to burglarize or steal anything from anyone at a trailer park. He looks forward to being vindicated once this matter is fully investigated and adjudicated through the court system.’
Winslow was charged with first-degree burglary and held on $50,000 bail. He faces up to six years if convicted.
He has a court appearance scheduled for Monday.
His father, Winslow Sr, famously played under coach Don Coryell and with quarterback Dan Fouts for the Chargers.
Winslow Jr. grew up in San Diego before attending the University of Miami and getting drafted sixth overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2004 NFL Draft.
He played 10 seasons for five teams, and had his best year in 2007 when he finished with 1,106 receiving yards and was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team.
Winslow Jr was charged with drug possession in 2014. He was eventually given a conditional discharge after being accused of having synthetic marijuana.
In 2005, Winslow famously suffered a severe leg injury while riding a motorcycle in an empty parking lot outside of Cleveland. He sustained torn ligaments in his right knee and was placed on the Physically Unable-to-Perform list.
Winslow’s father was a star for the San Diego Chargers’ ‘Air Coryell’ offense