Former Steelers wide receiver Damoun Patterson is facing a serious legal situation in Florida after police arrested him during a high-risk stop tied to an early-morning home invasion.
According to authorities in Orlando, Patterson was identified as a prime suspect in the case, which led to a “be-on-the-lookout” alert for him and a stolen white Kia SUV connected to the crime. Daytona Beach police later located that vehicle using advanced law enforcement technology, and the stop ended around 1 a.m. on August 22 on Silver Beach Avenue.
Officers pulled Patterson from the white Kia SUV at gunpoint. During the arrest, investigators say they found a large, machete-style knife on the front passenger seat. Patterson is now being held without bond.
His booking sheet lists four felony charges: armed burglary of a dwelling, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and criminal mischief.
The arrest adds another off-field chapter to a football career that never got off the ground in the regular season. Patterson entered the NFL in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of Youngstown State, signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He showed some promise in Pittsburgh, but the team waived him before the regular season.
After that, he spent time on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad later in 2018, then had stretches with the New England Patriots in 2018 and 2019, and later a brief stint with the Atlanta Falcons. In the end, his NFL career closed without any regular-season stats.
Police say Patterson’s behavior during the detention took an unusual turn, with the former receiver casually discussing his football past while being held.
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