Battery arrest warrant issued for former Bucs receiver Antonio Brown in Tampa

TAMPA — An arrest warrant has been issued for controversial former Bucs receiver Antonio Brown following an altercation Monday afternoon at a home in South Tampa, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Brown, 34, is wanted on a charge of misdemeanor domestic violence battery.

The altercation turned physical, after which Brown threw a shoe at the woman, according to a Tampa Police Department news release. He also attempted to evict her from the residence, locked her out of the home and threw many of her belongings onto the street, court documents say.

The Police Department petitioned for a risk protection order against Brown on Tuesday, but it was denied by a judge the same day, according to court records. Brown and the woman have four children together, with another of Brown’s sons also residing at the home, the documents said.

A risk protection order, which must be filed by either a law enforcement officer or a law enforcement agency, is used when there is evidence that a person poses a significant danger of harming themselves or others by possessing a firearm or ammunition.

According to police reports included in the petition, Brown became upset upon learning the woman — and the children residing with her — returned late from a holiday vacation to North Carolina, causing them to miss a day of school.

The woman told police that Brown dumped out her purse’s belongings and was yelling at her. She stated that when she walked outside and sat on a chair on the patio, Brown went outside and threw a shoe at her.

The woman told authorities she believed the shoe was meant for her head but only grazed her ponytail. She stated that when she came back to the house a little later, many of her belongings had been thrown in the street.

She also told police that Brown threatened to shoot her if she tried to reenter the house.

A report filed by an officer called to the scene indicated Brown remained in the residence and refused to speak with authorities. It also said Brown had two firearms — a handgun and a rifle — in the house, according to the woman.

On Thursday afternoon, WFTS-TV in Tampa reported that police were outside a house for an hour trying to get Brown to come out. Police said late Thursday that Brown was not in custody. Police spokesperson Merissa Lynn said he was “not communicating with officers, so it’s unclear if he’s still inside the home or not.”

Brown has been a frequent subject of litigation, ranging from a marketing company alleging that he didn’t pay a commission to an assault/battery accusation from a moving truck driver (who was awarded $1.2 million this fall). In October, a Sarasota man filed a lawsuit in Broward County, alleging that Brown sold him a counterfeit watch for $160,000.

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Brown hasn’t played in the NFL since being formally released by the Bucs on Jan. 6, four days after his bizarre and viral exit from the sideline during his team’s game against the Jets at MetLife Stadium. A month earlier, he had been suspended with two other players for three games without pay for using fake COVID-19 vaccination cards.

Times staff writer Matt Baker contributed to this report. Information from the Associated Press also was used.

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