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James Pearce Jr arrest: WNBA girlfriend ‘willing to testify’ against NFL player

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Rickea Jackson, the WNBA player listed as the alleged victim of a domestic violence incident involving Atlanta Falcons player James Pearce Jr., said she is “willing to testify” if need be.

Pearce, a rising star who nearly won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, was arrested near Miami on Saturday after allegedly fleeing officers and crashing his car following what police said was a domestic dispute with Jackson.

Jackson’s attorneys requested the court to conclude the case “as soon as practicable and bring justice to her and the people of the State of Florida” by using “all possible resources and personnel,” documents said, via ESPN.

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Rickea Jackson and James Pearce

Rickea Jackson said she is “willing to testify” against James Pearce Jr. following an alleged domestic dispute recently. (Andrew J. Clark, Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

“The victim is pleading with the Court and the State to conclude this matter promptly without hindering the efficacy of the prosecution’s case,” the attorneys wrote.

Pearce is facing several felony charges, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, and fleeing or eluding police.

Pearce allegedly crashed his vehicle into another car being driven by his girlfriend and struck a police officer while he tried to flee law enforcement, ESPN reported, citing a criminal complaint from the Miami-Dade County state attorney’s office.

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The alleged victim told police that she noticed Pearce was following her in a white luxury vehicle and when she stopped at a red light, the NFL player tried to open her vehicle. The victim said she started to drive toward the Doral Police Department, while Pearce allegedly followed her. As she got closer to the station, she said Pearce cut her off and collided with her head on.

James Pearce Jr after a game

Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. (27) is interviewed after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, on Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta.  (AP Photo/Danny Karnik, File)

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Doral police officers responded to the scene, according to ESPN. An officer reportedly pulled a gun on Pearce to try to force him to get on the ground and end the incident, but he allegedly got back into his car and drove away. He allegedly struck an officer as he drove away.

Pearce later crashed his vehicle and was accused of resisting arrest.

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Pearce’s attorneys say the Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate “maintains his innocence and urges the public to understand that while allegations have the power to shape a narrative, that it is hardly the full, complete story.”

James Pearce warms up for game vs Patriots

Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. (27) warms up prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 2, 2025. (Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images)

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“We look forward to vigorously defending our client and remain confident that he will continue contributing positively to both his team and the community he serves so well,” the attorneys added.

Pearce posted $20,000 bail. He finished third in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and was at the NFL Honors on Thursday night in California.

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Jackson, a member of the Los Angeles Sparks, finished ninth in MVP voting this past season after averaging 14.7 points, a new career-high.

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Hubert Davis drops blunt 4-word reaction after UNC star Caleb Wilson’s tense moment against Miami 

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Hubert Davis brushed off concerns about Caleb Wilson’s injury scare during UNC’s road loss to the Miami Hurricanes on Tuesday. The forward appeared to have suffered an injury to his left hand early in the second half, forcing him to leave the game.

He was attended to by the Tar Heels staff before he went into the locker room. However, he reentered the game with 8:47 minutes left on the clock. When Davis was asked after the game about the freshman’s situation, the coach retorted with a four-word response. He said:

“There was no situation.”

The coach was further asked whether the injury affected Wilson’s performance. He added:

“Not to my knowledge.”

Wilson turned out the worst scoring tally of his freshman season so far in the loss, with 12 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes. Ironically, the Tar Heels’ previous game against Duke saw Wilson deliver one of his best performances of the season so far. He played all 40 minutes against the Blue Devils, scoring 23 points.

Wilson has averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds so far this season. He is considered a potential top five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. However, his primary focus for now will be bouncing back from his disappointing outing against Miami with a win in the next game.

The Tar Heels’ loss against Miami has been blamed on the hangover from the win against Duke, but Hubert Davis has brushed off such claims. The coach said during the post-game interview:

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“I respectfully disagree with the hangover thing. I don’t believe in that.”

What Hubert Davis’ reaction to Caleb Wilson’s injury concerns mean for UNC

Hubert Davis’ dismissal of the injury concerns about Caleb Wilson seems reasonable in light of the forward’s return to the game on Tuesday. Tar Heels fans can heave a sigh of relief, as it would appear they have nothing to worry about concerning the star. However, his performance when UNC hosts Pitt on Saturday will further convince the fans or raise their concerns.

The Tar Heels (19-5) have a pretty tight schedule as the regular season draws closer to a conclusion. Their next game after hosting Pitt on Saturday will see them visit rival NC State next Tuesday. They face Syracuse next before games against Louisville, Virginia Tech, Clemson, and Duke.

Davis is still in search of his first national title as UNC’s head coach.