Cornerback Cameron Sutton, formerly of the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers, has turned himself in at the Orient Road Jail outside Tampa, Florida, according to a report by CBS News Detroit. Sutton, 29, had been wanted for nearly a month on charges of domestic battery by strangulation before surrendering to authorities late Sunday, March 31. "After weeks of evading law enforcement, this man has finally made the right choice to turn himself in," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said.
Following the issuance of an arrest warrant on March 7 and subsequent attempts to reach him for several weeks, Sutton faced public calls for his surrender when the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office posted his warrant on social media. Turning himself in, Sutton has been released by the Lions amidst these allegations, his $33 million contract cut short after signing just over a year ago. Detroit Lions president Rod Wood suggested to Sutton that he should get legal counsel and turn himself in, which was detailed by ClickOnDetroit after police posted his warrant on social media while he was present in the building in Allen Park.
A third-degree felony, the domestic battery by strangulation charge Sutton is facing can carry a sentence of up to five years in prison. His evasion of police following the March 7 incident led the Lions to terminate his contract amid the allegations that emerged. Sutton had contributed to the Lions' season, with his performance on the field marked by a career-high 65 tackles and one interception during regular-season play and playoff appearances.
Hoodline reported that before fleeing, a woman was allegedly strangled by Sutton where officers found evidence of wounds on her body at a residence in Lutz, Florida. The incident has cast a shadow over Sutton's football career, with his professional achievements overshadowed by the current legal situation, said law enforcement. As the legal proceedings unfold, Sutton's fate both in the league and within the judicial system is yet to be determined.
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