MIAMI - Police in South Florida are trying to find New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar after multiple witnesses accused them of an armed robbery at a party, authorities said Thursday.
Miramar police issued arrest warrants for both men Thursday on four counts each of armed robbery with a firearm. Baker faces an additional four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. The residential community is located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Baker, 22, and Dunbar, 27, were attending a cookout at a Miramar home Wednesday night when a fight broke out, and Baker pulled out a handgun, the warrant said. Baker, Dunbar and two other men began robbing other people at the party of thousands of dollars in cash, watches and other valuables, witnesses told investigators.
Police said the four men then fled the home in three vehicles: a Mercedes-Benz, a Lamborghini and a BMW. Witnesses said the vehicles were parked in a way that would make it easy to leave quickly, leading detectives to believe the robbery was planned. No injuries were reported.
Baker and Dunbar are both from Miami.
Baker was one of three first-round draft picks the Giants had last season. He was the 30th pick overall out of Georgia. He played in all 16 games, starting 15. He had 61 tackles and no interceptions. He was the last of the three New York picks in that first round.
"We are aware of the situation. We have been in contact with DeAndre," the Giants said in a released statement. "We have no further comment at this time."
AP photo by Patrick Semansky / Washington Redskins cornerback Quinton Dunbar, center, celebrates after intercepting a pass thrown by Detroit Lions quarterback Jeff Driskel during the second half on Nov. 24, 2019, in Landover, Md. Dunbar was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in the offseason.Dunbar signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2015 and was traded to the Seahawks in March. He started 11 games last season, making 37 tackles and posting four interceptions.
"We are aware of the situation involving Quinton Dunbar and still gathering information," the Seahawks said in a released statement. "We will defer all further comment to league investigators and local authorities."
Dunbar spent Thursday morning on a video conference with Seattle media for the first time since being traded.
"You just want to feel wanted at the end of the day. ... I just hope to repay them with the way I carry myself as a person," Dunbar said on the video conference.
On Friday, a Miami criminal defense lawyer representing Dunbar said he has five signed affidavits from witnesses that exonerate his client. Attorney Michael Grieco told The Associated Press the five witnesses attested Dunbar was not involved in the robbery.
Grieco said the affidavits were presented to prosecutors in Broward County but authorities still want Dunbar to turn himself in. Grieco said he has been in contact with authorities regarding Dunbar's surrender but declined to say when that would happen.
"Law enforcement and the state attorney's office are both now aware that my client is innocent," Grieco said.
Baker's attorney, Bradford Cohen, released a statement on Instagram
"We understand that the officers can only base warrants on what was told to them at the time," Cohen wrote. "We have had affidavits from several witnesses that also dispute the allegations and exculpate our client.
"Our investigator has had them for some time. We would have rather presented them to the court at the proper time, rather than in the media, but in this day and age, people rush to judgement. Where some seek publicity, we seek justice. I look forward to moving this case forward to proper conclusion, as we believe our client is innocent of any charges."