Former NFL running back Le’Veon Bell was arrested Sunday in Canton, Ohio, in connection with a child support case, according to TMZ.
Bell, 34, was reportedly taken into custody on a warrant tied to unpaid child support out of Michigan. He lives in California, but was in Canton for an autograph signing before the arrest. The mall’s website listed him for a meet-and-greet event at Belden Village Mall.
TMZ said Bell’s attorney, Thomas Shaffer, described the arrest as being related to “child support payments, or an alleged lack thereof.” Shaffer also told TMZ that Bell has been “struggling to make support payments.”
TMZ released Bell’s mugshot on Monday.
Bell last appeared in an NFL game in 2021. He entered the league in 2013 with the Steelers and spent five seasons in Pittsburgh, where he became one of the league’s top running backs and earned four All-Pro selections. He later played for the Jets, Chiefs, Ravens and Buccaneers, with his final time on Tampa Bay’s roster coming in the 2021 season.
In 2025, an Ohio jury found Bell liable for $25 million in a sexual abuse case brought by a female relative over events that occurred when she was a minor. His brother, La’Vonte, a co-defendant, was ordered to pay $11 million.
Per Fox 8, neither brother responded to Franklin County Court of Common Pleas summonses, which led to a default judgment against them. Neither was criminally charged.
According to TMZ, Bell owes more than $50,000 in child support. The case originated in Michigan, where the child lives.
Bell’s jail record shows he is being held on behalf of “another agency,” per Fox 8.
In Other News...
Pirates Just Sent A Troubling New Signal On Oneil Cruz
Oneil Cruzs latest injury update is the kind of news the Pirates had to handle carefully, even if it doesnt make the outlook any brighter. Pittsburgh needed another roster move this week, and the club used the opening to bring pitcher Khristian Curtis onto the 40-man roster after his MLB debut against the Guardians, a reminder that the Pirates are juggling short-term pitching needs while waiting on one of their most dynamic players to get right.
Ben Cherington said Cruz is still dealing with symptoms tied to the broken bone in his hand, particularly when swinging and making contact, which is why the team chose to give him more time. For a Pirates lineup that could use Cruzs power and athleticism, the delay matters almost as much as the injury itself, because it leaves his return timeline murky and keeps the club from counting on him anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Make A Doubleheader Move That Could Shape A Long Day
A long day at the ballpark is bringing another arm into the mix, with the Pirates adding right-hander Noah Murdock as their 27th man for Tuesdays doubleheader against the Yankees. Pittsburgh usually carries an extra pitcher for days like this, and Murdock gives the club another option if the bullpen gets stretched across two games.
Murdocks path to this spot has been moving quickly since he was added to the 40-man roster earlier this month and then sent back to Triple-A Indianapolis the same day. For now, the assignment is straightforward enough: be available, cover innings if needed, and give the Pirates a little more flexibility as they try to get through a demanding twin bill. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Just Got A Brutal Doubleheader Surprise From The Yankees
The Pirates are already staring at a tricky Wednesday doubleheader, and the matchup got a little more difficult when the Yankees lined up Max Fried to start the second game. Fried has been on the injured list since mid-May with a bone bruise in his left elbow, and his return gives New York another proven arm as it tries to keep its rotation steady through a busy stretch.
For Pittsburgh, the concern is not just that Fried is back, but that the Yankees can now pair him with Gerrit Cole and Cam Schlittler in a group that looks deeper than it did a week ago. Fried made one rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before rejoining the staff, and the only real question left is how much the Pirates will have to deal with in his first outing off the injured list. [Read more 🡒]