Malik McDowell arrested for public exposure and assaulting a deputy

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Malik McDowell, a second-round pick of the Seahawks in 2017 whose career was derailed by an ATV accident before re-emerging as a 16-game starter with the Browns this year, has been arrested in Florida.

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, McDowell was arrested for public exposure and beating a deputy. Per the police report obtained by the Sun-Sentinel, it was allegedly a “violent attack” that left the deputy “dazed.”

The arrest occurred on Monday, in Deerfield Beeach. McDowell has been accused of exposing himself in public, resisting arrest with violence, and battery on a law enforcement officer.

The police report indicates that the incident began after a call was received that a man was walking naked near a school.

McDowell has had several run-ins with law enforcement, including a September 2017 DUI and a December 2017 allegation of disorderly conduct. In February 2019, he was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, resisting arrest, and assault. The league suspended him two games.

The police report indicates that McDowell remains on probation in Michigan, which will create a separate set of legal issues for McDowell.

36 responses to “Malik McDowell arrested for public exposure and assaulting a deputy

  1. I feel if a 6’6” 300lb man “violently attacked” someone, they wouldn’t be “dazed”. They’d be unconscious.

  2. Now it makes sense on how such a talented player was so easily scooped up by the Browns. He’s done now, for sure.

  3. I’ll wait for the bodycam footage or other objective evidence before I convict this man of assaulting anyone. As for the rest of it, mental health issues are a crisis in this country and we need to begin to seek solutions rather than just throwing people in jail. It’s sad to hear about stories like this and we should all feel empathy towards this man.

  4. For as long as I can remember, McDowell and conflict have gone hand-in-hand. For some reason, he can’t tell the difference between acceptable behavior on a football field versus the real world. As a sitting court official, I have personally witnessed his disrespect for authority. I suspect that his next encounter with one of his judges in Michigan will likely lead to the biggest penalty he has ever encountered for unnecessary roughness.

  5. After his “accident” you would have thought he might re-think his off field behavior, but……

    Go Hawks!

  6. He was a complete bust and waste of a pick in Seattle and shouldn’t have been given a second chance. Idiot got into an off-field ATV accident and never got on the field during his contract. What an idiot. Ban him from football for life.

  7. The Least Interesting Man Alive says:
    This guy is a few fries short of a happy meal.

    If you examine this guy’s history through college and the NFL I’d say it’s more like he’s a few fries, a burger and a drink short of a Happy Meal.

  8. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that this guy suffered a traumatic brain injury a few years ago.

  9. To some of the commenters, throwing a single punch classifies as violence. He didn’t have to beat him until he’s nearly dead or specifically unconscious for the attack to be violent… Maybe the deputy protected his head?

    Secondly, it is important to be empathetic to mental heapth and find a long term solution that is better than just “get them off the streets”, but how about being empathetic to the guy who was just trying to do his job and got violently assaulted? I think if a random person beat you up at work, you wouldnt be going “it’s okay, just be empathetic, he needed to work out his mental health on my face”.

  10. The man has a history of public intoxication, impulsiveness/recklessness and violence. I’m not a doctor, but I’d say he is probably dealing with significant brain injury. The Browns, the Players Union and the League all need to step up here, STAT.

  11. The near a school part is important because that makes it a felony. If he had just been naked walking down a beach front road it is not a huge deal. Add kids to the equation and he is heading to prison.

    I hope the judge throws the book at him.

  12. Good Grief! During one of the Browns games, I heard a comment about what a monster he was. I thought they were referring to his play on the field.

  13. Well said “chawkup”. Mental health and substance abuse often go “hand in hand”. It could not be more obvious that this man needs some assistance and compassion. This country’s jails and homeless camps should not be the default destinations for those in need of mental health assistance.

  14. The NFL gridiron is not the place for a man suffering from mental challenges. After his ATV accident he was rightly kept off line by the Seahawks. The Browns used him, because they could. Not sure if he will be back, but he needs to be independently cleared by a physician/phycologist as part of any return. That is, after he serves his suspension for this latest action.

  15. What a historic bust of a player. Walking naked around a school, attacking a police officer… let’s hope he never plays another down in the NFL. Go directly to jail, do not pass Go, do not collect your NFL paycheck.

  16. McDowell has some serious mental issues the Brown’s should cut him and try to get him some help. I think that would be the right thing to do.

  17. He walked into a daycare, naked, punched a cop… goodness, this screams brain damage.

  18. Classic flakka behavior. Syhtnetic drug that raises the body temp so high they take off all clothes and run around naked and crazy. Google flakka video and you will see.

  19. Very sad for him, in that he has problems and impulses over which he has no control.
    Having said that, others should not be subjected to McDowell’s inability to function in society. I’m not sure what the solution is, but mot letting back in the NFL is a start.

  20. This is a pretty sad story. I truly feel sorry for all parties involved here. Peeps should be sensitive to what is going on… The man needs help and football should be secondary to human life.
    Prayers sent

  21. Gotta give up the alcohol. It’s a horrible, addictive depressant that ruins countless lives. It’s mind blowing that drinking is socially accepted, even encouraged.

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