MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A former University of Miami and NFL tight end was arrested Tuesday on battery charges after he punched his girlfriend "for no reason" and kicked the door of a police car into an arresting officer, police said.
Richard Gordon, 29, faces charges of domestic battery and battery on a law enforcement officer.
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According to a Miami Gardens police report, Gordon's girlfriend and the mother of his 3-year-old child told police that she was driving on the Palmetto Expressway with Gordon to help him pick up his car from Tootsie's when he "started acting crazy and flipped out."
She told police that Gordon began slapping her in the face and punching her arm several times.
Police said officers found Gordon's car across the street from Tootsie's and saw an AR-15 assault rifle in plain view inside the locked vehicle. Police impounded the car and took the gun into evidence.
Gordon was later found walking near Tootsie's and was placed into custody, police said. While he was being placed into the back seat of the police car, Gordon yelled an expletive at the officer and kicked the door, hitting her in the arm and shoulder, the report said.
A detective said the assault rifle was going to be used to shoot up The Office strip club because of a confrontation that Gordon had there the night before, the report said.
Gordon's girlfriend told police that he had been hospitalized under Florida's Baker Act law three times in the past year and hasn't slept in days.
Gordon played in 49 games for the Hurricanes from 2006-10, catching 10 passes for 62 yards in his college career. Despite starting just 10 games at Miami, Gordon was a sixth-round draft pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2011.
The NFL journeyman lasted just two seasons with the Raiders, catching two passes for nine yards and one touchdown. Gordon has also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos.
Gordon was waived by the Broncos last month.
He was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on $6,500 bond.