Ravens Cornerback Jimmy Smith Arrested In Towson
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- With just ten days until training camp, a Baltimore Ravens player finds himself in handcuffs in the back of a Baltimore County police cruiser.
Rochelle Ritchie explains officers say he failed to obey orders to leave a women's restroom.
Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith's attempt to do a deed lands him in the wrong place with Baltimore County Police after an incident involving a woman who police say had cocaine in her purse.
He's the fifth Ravens player to find himself in trouble with the law. Baltimore County Police say cornerback Jimmy Smith was placed under arrested Saturday night after he failed to obey their commands to leave the women's restroom at the Greene Turtle in Towson, where paramedics were trying to help a sick woman.
"He had told the officers they had worked earlier that day on a photo shoot together, but there is nothing that we have learned that there was any additional contact between Mr. Smith and this young lady," said Officer Shawn Vincent, Baltimore County Police.
The news stunned some Ravens fans.
"Why would he do that?" said Philip Muriel.
It all started after the restaurant's general manager found the woman passed out on the floor. He flagged down an officer, telling him he thought the woman had overdosed on cocaine in the restroom.
"The general manager did give the officers a purse. Inside that purse, they believed that they found narcotics," said Vincent.
Police say they found Smith holding the woman up as she vomited in a sink.
"When they asked the man to leave the bathroom once the medical personnel arrived, he refused. He said that he was there continuing to help her," Vincent said.
Smith insisted he was helping, while police insisted he was in the way. Police say they had to usher him out, at which time, they say Smith used expletives towards them.
"They placed the man under arrest. What they charged them with is failure to obey a lawful order of a police officer," said Vincent.
Smith is the fifth player to find himself in trouble with the law. Before that, Ray Rice, Jah Reid, Deonte Thompson and Lorenzo Talliaferro all had run-ins with police.
Fans say while the arrests are unsettling, no one is immune to the troubles of life.
"People have problems. It happens to everybody. I don't think it looks bad on Baltimore. Players in all sports get arrested all the time," Mike Doyle said.
The report from Baltimore County Police says Smith repeatedly told them he did nothing wrong and the only reason they arrested him was so they could end up on the news. Police say Smith did not have any drugs in his possession.
Police say Smith was not combative and was not in custody long at all.
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