Former Georgia tight end Orson Charles arrested for threatening to shoot Tampa officers

Orson Charles, a former Georgia and NFL tight end, is accused of threatening off-duty police officers with a gun during a dispute over a parking spot. He’s facing multiple charges as a result.

Charles and the officers were trying to park in a spot at an intersection in Tampa when he walked out of his car toward them after they got the spot, the Tampa Police Department said, according to WTSP-TV. That’s when Charles pulled out the gun from under his shirt. The officers showed him their badges, but he ignored them and cursed at them.

He was eventually taken into custody and has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed firearm, according to WTSP.

More on Orson Charles

Charles played tight end at Georgia from 2009-11 before going to the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. With the Bulldogs, he earned first team All-SEC honors in 2011 as he had 45 receptions for 574 yards and five touchdowns to help Georgia to a 10-4 record and an Outback Bowl appearance against Michigan State.

Charles played for the Bengals from 2012-13 as a tight end and fullback before bouncing around to the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints practice squads. He then played for the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos from 2015-19. After the Broncos released him in 2019, the XFL’s D.C. Defenders drafted him in the league’s 2020 draft, but he didn’t end up signing with a team. He hasn’t played professional football since.

During his career, Charles had some other legal issues. In 2014, he was charged with wanton endangerment after an alleged road rage incident involving a gun. He pleaded guilty in 2015 and enrolled in a diversion program as a result.