Former Detroit Lions player Cameron Sutton turned himself in to police Sunday night after avoiding arrest for more than three weeks on charges of domestic battery by strangulation.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office released video of Sutton being taken into custody in handcuffs at the Oreint Road Jail on Sunday evening. The police had been looking for him since March 7.
“After weeks of evading law enforcement, this man finally made the right choice to turn himself in,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Domestic violence has no place in our community, and no one is above the law here in Hillsborough County.
“My thoughts are with this woman as she continues to heal from this man’s horrific actions.”
The Lions signed the 29-year-old Sutton to a three-year deal worth $33 million last year but cut him when news of his arrest warrant emerged.
Cam Sutton turned himself in to police on Sunday evening after almost a month on the run
Lions president and CEO Rod Wood revealed last week that Sutton was at the team’s training facility when the warrant for his arrest began circulating online.
Wood said he had not spoken directly to Sutton, but members of his staff had, and advised him to turn himself in to police.
“We heard about the order at the same time as everyone else on social media. And we were able to talk to Cam because he was actually in our building,” Wood said last Monday.
“We found him, he was in trouble with our strength staff and showed up unexpectedly to practice.
“He left the building and we released him the next day. No one has spoken to him since.”
Sutton played six seasons in the NFL and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Lions.
Police received a call around 4:35 a.m. on March 7 in Hillsborough County regarding an alleged incident involving the NFL player, according to quotes obtained by Detroit News from the Sheriff’s Office.
“We were trying to make contact with (Sutton),” said public affairs officer Phil Martello. ‘We called him, no answer. He’s been avoiding us. Our deputies have gathered all the clues here.
“He has vehicles and a house in a county one away from us, but he hasn’t been there and we haven’t been able to catch him there.
“So again, it looks like he turned his phone off or threw his phone away or something because we haven’t been able to reach him.”
In his first season in Detroit, he started all twenty regular and postseason games as the Lions reached the NFC Championship game.
The Georgia-born star posted 65 tackles, an interception, one forced fumble and six passes defensed in his 17 regular-season starts, while adding eight tackles and breaking up three passes in three playoff starts.
