Former National Football League wide receiver Dorial Gree-Beckham, who had played for the University of Missouri, was formally charged on June 27 with resisting arrest and possessing 10 grams or less of marijuana. The charges stem from a drug raid conducted by police in Springfield in December 2018. The former football star faces a $500 fine for the marijuana charge and up to one year in jail for the resisting arrest charge.
According to media reports, Green-Beckham was observed entering the residence that Springfield Police Department officers planned to raid carrying a backpack. When police entered the home about 15 minutes later, Green-Beckham allegedly attempted to flee by jumping out of a window. He was apprehended a few moments later by a police officer who is said to have used a Taser to subdue him. Police say that Green-Beckham was not the target of the search warrant.
During an inventory of Green-Beckham’s possessions, police say they discovered two bags that each contained about 5 grams of marijuana. A search of the residence led to the seizure of approximately 8 pounds of marijuana, $3,200 in cash and 29 THC vaporizer cartridges. About 1 pound of marijuana and the THC cartridges were found in the backpack police say Green-Beckham was carrying when he entered the home. Green-Beckham was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 after catching 36 passes and gaining 392 yards for the team during the 2016 NFL season.
This case reveals that the consequences of attempting to elude law enforcement and resisting arrest can sometimes be more severe than the penalties for minor drug charges. This is why experienced criminal defense attorneys may advise their clients to cooperate with police and resist the urge to flee. Resisting arrest could also make it more difficult for defense attorneys to secure a favorable resolution during plea negotiations with prosecutors.