Former NFL first-round pick Damon Arnette arrested on gun, meth charges

Former Raiders defensive back Damon Arnette is once again in trouble with the law — though he’s maintaining his innocence in what marks his third arrest since early 2022.

Arnette was arrested in Richardson, Texas, at 3:30 a.m. local time on Jan. 6, and faces charges of unlawful carrying of a firearm and possession of less than a gram of meth, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Clayton Holloway first reported on Monday.

Further details of the arrest were not immediately available.

Legal representatives for Arnette claimed the report of the arrest is “simply incorrect.”

“Our client, at the time of the stop, was unable to provide law enforcement with his prescription for a lawful medication. The arrest was predicated on Mr. Arnette being unable to prove the medication was prescribed, had he been able to do so at the time of the stop there would have been no arrest for either the controlled substance of the firearms,” Jason Lampert of Salzano, Ettinger, Lampert & Wilson, LLP and Thomas Wynne of Milner Wynne said in a statement to NFL media.

“Our offices are working with the local law enforcement to rectify this matter before any charges are brought by the District Attorney’s office.”

The Raiders selected Arnette 19th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft after he starred at Ohio State.

He appeared in nine games, including seven starts, in his rookie year and also played in four games in 2021.

The Raiders released Arnette after a disturbing video spread on social media that showed him waving a gun and threatening to kill an unnamed person.

He would be picked up by the Chiefs, but released before ever appearing in a game for the team when he was arrested and accused of pointing a gun at a Las Vegas valet in early 2022.

Arnette was also arrested later that year in Miami, and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license.

“You know, it’s really sad man. We really try and give people chances. You just pissed me off man. You think we’re stupid? You think we don’t know what’s up? It’s Miami beach, it’s Miami f–king beach bro. You think that we don’t know that s–t, that we’re stupid, that we’re born yesterday?” a police officer said to Arnette during that arrest.

“You dropped a dollar with a tube on it earlier. … Your girl picked up, didn’t say nothing. Could’ve had you earlier bro and now you’re going to jail for what? ‘Cause, you’re stupid.

“I’m just venting because honestly, it sucks. We can’t even give people warnings without them f–king it up for themselves.”