Jadeveon Clowney, the former No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick and standout from the University of South Carolina, was arrested in Rock Hill, S.C., just days before joining the Dallas Cowboys.
According to the Rock Hill Police Department (via local NBC affiliate, WYFF), the incident unfolded on Sept. 12 at the Dunbar Place Apartments, not far from a local high school football game. Officers were working off-duty security at the complex to keep nonresidents from parking there during the event.
Clowney, who grew up in Rock Hill and became a hometown football star before entering the NFL, drove into the lot that evening. Police documents state he initially mentioned he might be going to the game but also claimed he was visiting his aunt, who lived at the complex. Officers, however, told him he could not park there if he was not a resident.
The report says the situation escalated after Clowney questioned the officer’s authority and refused multiple requests to show identification. “Reporting officer requested Clowney’s identification at least twice during the incident which Clowney repeatedly refused to provide,” the statement read, per the local NBC affiliate. At that point, police said he was placed under arrest for trespassing and failure to identify—both misdemeanor charges.
TMZ Sports later obtained Clowney’s mugshot along with the official police report. The arrest, which came just three days before his new NFL deal, quickly made headlines.
Despite the off-field issue, Clowney finalized his contract with the Cowboys on Sept. 15. When speaking with Dallas media after the news broke, the veteran defensive end kept his comments brief: he acknowledged the arrest and said he was ready to “move on from it.”
Clowney’s signing marks a major move for Dallas, who are set to lean on his experience and pass-rushing ability. The 31-year-old played his last season with the Carolina Panthers in 2024, and he could make his Cowboys debut as soon as this Sunday in a road matchup against the Chicago Bears.