FL Police Charge Former Crimson Tide Star In Robbery, Kidnapping Case

TAMPA, FL — Police have arrested Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold in connection with a kidnapping and robbery investigation stemming from a February incident in Tampa.
Arnold, 23, turned himself in and was taken into custody at Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County on Wednesday night, Tampa police said in a news release.

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The former Crimson Tide defensive back is facing four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery.

He was arrested for a Feb. 4 targeted armed robbery that happened in the 14000 block of N. 46th Street, police said.

The three victims, all men in their late teens, had visible injuries after they were battered, held at gunpoint, and pistol-whipped before their property was stolen and they were ordered to leave, investigators said.

The investigation began after multiple personal property items belonging to Arnold and others were stolen from an Airbnb in Largo that he had rented and where he periodically stayed with several co-defendants and friends.

He suspected two of the three victims were involved in that theft, but investigators later determined they weren’t.

Arnold, Boakai Hilton Jr., Freddie Hughes and another individual reported property losses of more than $250,000 to the Largo Police Department on Feb. 30, detectives said.

That same day, police said Arnold and Hilton coordinated and directed Arianna Del Valle and Jasmine Randazzo to contact one of the victims and lure him to their apartment.

Around midnight on Feb. 4, the victims drove to the apartment, where Christion Williams and Lyndell Hudson II were hiding in a bedroom closet.

When the victims entered the bedroom, Williams and Hudson grabbed them, held them at gunpoint and hit them, police said.

Investigators also found that Del Valle streamed the incident to Arnold, Hilton and Hughes while they were traveling to the apartment.

There was also a group chat including all defendants, where Arnold and Hilton reportedly gave directions to Del Valle, Williams and Hudson during the assault, detectives said.

About an hour later, Arnold, Hilton, Hughes and another individual arrived at the apartment. While the assault was still underway, Hughes, Hudson and Williams stole the victims' personal property, police said.

Around 1:40 a.m., the three victims were escorted out by armed suspects and forced into their vehicle, before leaving the scene.

Tampa police previously arrested six other people in the case between Feb. 4 and March 21, including Del Valle, Randazzo, Hudson, Williams, Hilton and Huges.

Investigators believe, based on evidence gathered, that Arnold was the primary conspirator. The victims reported the incident to Tampa police and positively identified the suspects, police said.