Former NFL star Le’Veon Bell arrested in Ohio over child support warrant
Le’Veon Bell taken into custody in Canton following meet-and-greet; Michigan authorities cite unpaid support obligations despite recent pension payment.
Former National Football League running back Le’Veon Bell was arrested in Canton, Ohio, on Sunday following a scheduled meet-and-greet at a local shopping centre. The arrest was executed pursuant to a warrant issued by authorities in Michigan, relating to outstanding child support obligations.
Bell’s legal representative, Thomas Shaffer, stated that the arrears in question were calculated based on Bell’s historical earnings from his NFL career and his brief stint in professional boxing, rather than his current financial standing. Shaffer argued that the guidelines applied to the case were inaccurate, as they did not reflect Bell’s reduced income post-retirement.
According to Shaffer, Bell had recently attempted to address the debt by liquidating a portion of his NFL pension. Six months prior to the arrest, Bell paid $50,000 towards child support for one child. Despite this payment, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office became involved due to the magnitude of the outstanding debt, which ultimately led to the issuance of the warrant.
Bell, originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013 as a second-round pick, spent eight years with the franchise before playing for the Jets, Ravens, Chiefs, and Buccaneers in the final three years of his career. Over the course of his professional career, he earned $44.8 million.
The arrest occurred in Canton, where Bell was attending the event. Bell is originally from Groveport, Ohio, a town located approximately two hours from Canton. The specific total amount of the arrears and the immediate legal outcome of the detention were not disclosed in available reports.
