Robert Nkemdiche faced a stern reprimand from police officers after being detained for allegedly stealing groceries in Georgia at the end of last month, according to newly released police footage.
The incident involving the former NFL first-round draft pick took place around 10:45 p.m. on February 25, as Union City Police Department officers responded to accusations that he left a Kroger store with several large items concealed in his sweatpants.
Body camera footage, obtained by The California Post, shows officers confronting Nkemdiche after discovering items he allegedly attempted to steal from the store. These items included candy bars, frozen meals, and cartons of almond milk.
“Look, man,” one officer said to Nkemdiche, who was handcuffed. “We’re not going to play these games. Because I’ve run into you too many times. And you keep lying.
“You can say whatever you want to say. But I just watched you walk out of here with a big-ass bulge in your pants. I asked you what it was. You said nothing.
“Then, to give you the benefit of the doubt, I was like, ‘OK. Maybe he’s just got, I don’t know, like, a condition.’ I let you go, and I see you just take off running behind the gas station.”
Nkemdiche repeatedly attempted to interrupt the officer, insisting that he did not steal the groceries.
“Yes the f—k you did,” the officer responded. “Stop lying to me.”
Officers on the scene expressed their frustration, noting that they had detained Nkemdiche on multiple occasions in recent months.
One officer mentioned it was her “third time” questioning the 31-year-old.
“This is a repeated offense for you,” she remarked.
After a prolonged exchange, Nkemdiche eventually apologized, vowed not to steal again, and explained that he acted because his manager was “bringing me food and I was just in a rush.”
“That’s all,” he stated.
In an incident report, officers noted that a Kroger representative indicated they did not wish to press charges. However, Nkemdiche was arrested after a database search revealed “multiple warrants across multiple states.”
Jail records show he was booked at 1:44 a.m. on February 26 and released about six hours later.
Nkemdiche, an Atlanta native, was drafted by Arizona as the No. 29 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He played five seasons in the NFL, participating in regular-season games for the Cardinals, Dolphins, and Seahawks.
His last association with an NFL team was in 2022 when he briefly joined the 49ers’ preseason roster.
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