NFL star Aaron Hernandez was busted this morning, nine days
after a drinking pal was found slain near the tight end’s home.
Hernandez woke up a free man inside his North Attleboro,
Mass., mansion before state and local cops went inside and hauled him out in
handcuffs shortly before 9 a.m.
The hulking 23-year-old wore red workout shorts, and was
cuffed with his hands and arms under a white T-shirt. Plainclothes cops loaded
him into the back of a squad car.
The Patriots cut their Pro Bowl tight end minutes later.
It’s believed Hernandez was arrested in connection to the
slaying of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd, 27, whose body was found at a
North Attleboro industrial park on June 17, about a half-mile from the tight
end’s home.
Hernandez, Lloyd and two other men were spotted at a Boston
bar the previous night and left together, according to multiple broadcast
reports.
Lloyd's relatives said he was dating the sister of
Hernandez's fiancee. The victim’s mom, Ursula Ward, declined to comment about
news of the player’s arrest.
"Nothing to say, please. Thank you," she said at
her Boston home before shutting the door.
Hernandez is expected to appear in court later today.
ABC News reported last week that Hernandez would be arrested
for alleged obstruction of justice.
A home security system, including video surveillance
equipment, was intentionally destroyed at Hernandez’s pad, law enforcement
sources told ABC. Cops always wanted to know why Hernandez hired a team of
house cleaners to wipe up his home on June 17.
“Today, at approximately 8:47 a.m., Aaron Hernandez was
arrested by Massachusetts state police and North Attleboro police,’’ Bristol
County DA Samuel Sutter said. “He will be arraigned at Attleboro District
Court.”
The Patriots, who had remained silent about Hernandez’s
situation, did their best to distance themselves today from their now-former
tight end.
“A young man was murdered last week and we extend our
sympathies to the family and friends who mourn his loss,” according to a team
statement this morning. “Words cannot express the disappointment we feel
knowing that one of our players was arrested as a result of this
investigation.”
The Pats added: ”We realize that law enforcement
investigations into this matter are ongoing. We support their efforts and respect
the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is simply the right
thing to do.”
State cops have searched Hernandez’s house and the nearby
woods and pond since Lloyd’s body was found. At least three search warrants
have been executed in the on-going police probe of Lloyd’s slaying.
The murder probe has jarred Hernandez’s quiet suburban
neighborhood, where a small army of reporters and TV trucks have camped.
Hernandez's sprawling mansion is near the Rhode Island line and only 10 miles
from the Patriots home, Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots drafted Hernandez, a Bristol, Conn., native,
out of the University of Florida in 2010. Last summer, the team gave him a
five-year contract worth $40 million.
Since Hernandez was linked to Lloyd’s slaying, NFL
executives have whispered that his draft stock in 2010 had fallen due to failed
drugs tests and character questions.
The troubled player was sued in federal court last week by a
former friend, who was allegedly shot by Hernandez in Florida in February.
Alexander Bradley, 32, said he was at a Miami strip club
with Hernandez when they allegedly began arguing. Later that night as they
drove north to Palm Beach, Bradley said he was shot in the face by Hernandez.
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