Pregnant Woman Called Authorities
TAMPA — A Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back kicked down a pregnant woman’s door, destroyed a couple of televisions, hit her in the face and pushed her into a wall, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
It happened during an argument late Thursday over whether the player, Lionel Theron Gates, 25, is the father of 28-year-old Peggy Lavender’s child, deputies say.
Gates was arrested early Friday and charged with assault on a pregnant woman, burglary of an occupied dwelling and criminal mischief of $1,000 or more — all felonies.
Deputies say he broke into Lavender’s apartment at 6211 Savannah Breeze Court about 11:30 p.m. Thursday. Gates damaged a large-screen television set, an interior door and a bedroom door, according to sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Carter.
Gates then assaulted the woman, Carter said.
After the altercation, Gates ran from the apartment and Lavender called authorities. Deputies went to his apartment at 6203 Savannah Breeze Court and arrested him after an interview. He was being held at Orient Road Jail. Bail was not set.
Gates and Lavender dated in the past, Carter said.
Gates was signed to the Bucs practice squad in December.
A call to his attorney, Ken Sarnoff, was not immediately returned.
“Charges such as those facing Lionel Gates are taken seriously by the Buccaneers organization,” the team said Friday. “We plan to meet with Lionel as soon as possible after which we will deal with this matter appropriately.”
Gates, a Jacksonville native, played college football at Louisville and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2005.
Carl Lisciandrello of TBO.com sports contributed to this report.
