Jacksonville Jaguars DE Lerentee McCray flees officers, tries to gas up police car, videos show
BySamantha Mathers, Action News Jax
BySamantha Mathers, Action News Jax
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars player Lerentee McCray was arrested in Lake County, accused of fleeing from officers.
In a police report obtained by Action News Jax, on Jan. 16, just before 1:00 a.m., a patrol officer with the Fruitland Park Police Department observed a Dodge Ram speeding on State Road 205 and initiated a traffic stop.
FPPD said the driver did not stop and was seen making an “expletive (sic) hand gesture using his middle finger” out the window. During the chase officers reached speeds of up to 100 mph, during which McCray swerved across multiple lanes of traffic before finally stopping.
Later, at a 7-11 gas station, an officer from the Tavares Police Department was assisting another officer with a separate traffic stop when McCray pulled up, got up and gave a fist bump to another officer he knew from the Astatula Police Department.
McCray opened the TPD officer’s fuel door in an attempt to buy him some gas, according to a TPD report. The officer said there was no need to do that and after some back and forth, McCray grabbed the officer’s right wrist and “squeezed forcefully,” the report said.
On Wednesday, Jan. 26, Action News Jax obtained video from TPD of the Jan. 16 incident, showing McCray telling the officer to “gas up!” The timestamp on the video is from the 2 a.m. hour, after McCray allegedly eluded officers. Watch the video clip below:
BODY CAM VIDEO: Jacksonville Jaguars LB Lerentee McCray tries to get gas for Central Florida officer Lerentee McCray opened the TPD officer’s fuel door in an attempt to buy him some gas, according to a Tavares Police Department report.
McCray was told to go back toward his vehicle and he then “opened the back of his truck and pulled out a child size bicycle and placed it on his hood,” the TPD report said.
McCray “was talking in circles” and not responding to officers, the report said, and he then went behind his truck and “laid on the ground as if he wanted to be handcuffed.” The officer told other officers to detain McCray “due to his erratic behavior,” the TPD report said.
Members of law enforcement said the player appeared to be in an “altered mental status” and transported McCray to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation.
When McCray was later interviewed by the officers from the chase from the Fruitland Park Police Department, he responded, “Oh that was you? My bad.”
Photos: Jacksonville Jaguars' Lerentee McCray through the years Here are some memorable photos of Jacksonville Jaguars player Lerentee McCray through the years. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Photos: Jacksonville Jaguars' Lerentee McCray through the years 2012: Linebacker Jelani Jenkins of the Florida Gators celebrates with defensive lineman Lerentee McCray after returning a blocked punt for a game-winning touchdown against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns on November 10, 2012, in Gainesville, Florida. Florida won 27-20. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Photos: Jacksonville Jaguars' Lerentee McCray through the years 2013: Linebacker Lerentee McCray of the Denver Broncos warms up prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on August 17, 2013, in Seattle. (Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images)
Photos: Jacksonville Jaguars' Lerentee McCray through the years 2014: Denver Broncos outside linebacker Lerentee McCray looks on during drills on Day 7 of the Denver Broncos 2014 training camp July 31, 2014, at Dove Valley. (John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Photos: Jacksonville Jaguars' Lerentee McCray through the years 2015: Denver Broncos linebackers Shane Ray, left, and Lerentee McCray share a laugh during practice Thursday, August 27, 2015. (Steve Nehf, The Denver Post)
Photos: Jacksonville Jaguars' Lerentee McCray through the years 2016: Lerentee McCray of the Buffalo Bills looks on from the bench during NFL game action against the New York Jets at New Era Field on September 15, 2016, in Orchard Park, New York. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Photos: Jacksonville Jaguars' Lerentee McCray through the years 2017: Former Florida Gators teammates Indianapolis Colts linebacker Jon Bostic, Jacksonville Jagurs linebacker Lerentee McCray and Indianapolis Colts linebacker Antonio Morrison pose for a photo following the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 3, 2017, at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Photos: Jacksonville Jaguars' Lerentee McCray through the years 2018: Tom Brady of the New England Patriots congratulates Lerentee McCray of the Jacksonville Jaguars following the game at TIAA Bank Field on September 16, 2018, in Jacksonville, Florida. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Photos: Jacksonville Jaguars' Lerentee McCray through the years 2019: Lerentee McCray of the Jacksonville Jaguars greets fans after a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at TIAA Bank Field on September 8, 2019, in Jacksonville, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Photos: Jacksonville Jaguars' Lerentee McCray through the years 2021: Lerentee McCray of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks on during training camp at TIAA Bank Field on July 28, 2021, in Jacksonville, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Police recovered marijuana and a shotgun inside McCray’s truck, according to the TPD report.
McCray played college football for the Florida Gators from 2008 to 2012. In 2013, he signed with the Denver Broncos where he played two seasons. McCray has been with the Jags since 2017.
McCray was charged with fleeing/attempting to elude law enforcement. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond.
According to court records, McCray’s next court date is scheduled for Feb. 14.
Action News Jax received the following statement from the Jaguars:
“We are aware of the situation and are gathering more information. We have no further comment at this time.”
SEE DASH CAM VIDEO FROM THE FRUITLAND PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT BELOW:
Dash cam, Part 1: Jaguars defensive end arrested, charged in police chase in Central Florida Jacksonville Jaguars player Lerentee McCray was arrested over the weekend in Lake County.
Dash cam, Part 2: Jaguars defensive end arrested, charged in police chase in Central Florida Jacksonville Jaguars player Lerentee McCray was arrested over the weekend in Lake County.
