Jets DE Sheldon Richardson arrested for allegedly driving 143 mph

New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson was arrested earlier this month and charged with resisting arrest and several traffic violations.

New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson was arrested earlier this month and charged with resisting arrest and several traffic violations, according to court records. 

Richardson was arrested in St. Charles County, Mo., on July 14 after officers observed him driving 143 mph, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He had apparently been racing another vehicle on a highway when officers attempted to stop him, St. Charles County Prosecutor Tim Lohmar told the Post-Dispatch. Richardson evaded the officers by speeding up and exiting the highway, running through a red light in the process, Lohmar added. He was eventually apprehended when he pulled the car into a driveway that was not his. 

Richardson had two other men and a 12-year-old child in the 2014 Bentley Silver Spur with him. He was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Officers found a loaded handgun under the driver’s seat and the car smelled of marijuana, police allege in a statement of probable cause obtained by Rand Getlin of the NFL Network. 

Statement of probable cause regarding Sheldon Richardson's arrest on a variety of charges. (via @sccmo) pic.twitter.com/HBMuPRQZSP

— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) July 30, 2015

The arrest occurred less than two weeks after the NFL handed Richardson a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. 

Richardson reported to Jets training camp in New Jersey on Thursday.

Richardson, 24, is entering his third season in the NFL. He was named to the Pro Bowl last year after accumulating 70 total tackles and eight sacks. 

- Dan Gartland