Jacksonville Jaguars DE Lerentee McCray charged in police chase in Central

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars player Lerentee McCray was arrested over the weekend in Lake County.

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 SR 205 and initiated a traffic stop.

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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.

At a 7-11 gas station, an officer from the Tavares Police Department was assisting another officer with another 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.

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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 McCraw was later interviewed by the officers from the chase from the Fruitland Park Police Department, he responded, “Oh that was you? My bad.”

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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.

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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: