Derrick Ward, a former running back for the New York Giants, was detained in Los Angeles on charges of robbery.
Derrick Ward, a former running back for the New York Giants, was taken into custody in Los Angeles on robbery charges.
ANGELES — Former running back Derrick Ward, who was a part of the New York Giants’ 2008 Super Bowl winning squad, was taken into custody in Los Angeles on robbery charges.
According to authorities, Ward, 43, was taken into custody on Monday in the North Hollywood region. A website for searching inmates run by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department states that he was being held on $250,000 bond on Tuesday.
Police didn’t immediately provide details of the alleged crime, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether Ward had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
A call by The Associated Press to the police department seeking information wasn’t immediately returned Tuesday evening.
Police told NBC News that Ward allegedly robbed five businesses, including gas stations, and that the 6-foot-tall, 230-pound ex-player didn’t use a gun during the alleged crimes.
Ward, who grew up in Southern California, was drafted by the New York Jets in 2004 in the seventh round but was cut without playing a regular season game.
He went on to play for the Giants from 2004 to 2008, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009 and the Houston Texans from 2010 to 2011 before retiring from the NFL in 2012.
With the Giants, he was part of a fearsome trio of running backs along with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw that was nicknamed “Earth, Wind and Fire.”
He was with the Giants when they beat Tom Brady’s undefeated New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII in 2008. However, Ward didn’t play in the game because of a broken leg.
Ward’s best NFL season was 2008 when he rushed for 1,025 yards on 182 carries with two touchdowns.
