Ex-Falcon Grady Jackson says ‘misundertanding' led to theft charge

By Mike Morris and Christian Boone

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An arrest warrant has been issued for former Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jackson, charging him with theft by receiving property that had been stolen from another NFL football player.

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Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com Former Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jackson is charged with theft by receiving stolen property.

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Duluth police began investigating Jackson last month after a watch that he pawned for $2,000 at a Gwinnett County pawn shop turned up stolen.

In a statement, Jackson said the incident was a "misunderstanding. I am in the process of clarifying and look forward to resolving."

According to Duluth police investigators, the upscale Aximum watch had been reported stolen on June 4, 2009, by former Detroit Lions defensive back Travis Fisher. Fisher told police in Michigan that he believed that the diamond-encrusted watch, which he had purchased from a Buckhead store for more than $40,000, was stolen from a bag while he was at football practice.

Jackson, a starter for the Falcons in 2006 and 2007, played with Fisher on the 2009 Lions team.

According to a report by Duluth police Investigator William Petty, when contacted by police, Jackson told Petty that he had bought the watch from "some guy in Alabama about one to two years ago."

Jackson was unaware criminal charges had been filed against him until reading news accounts online Friday afternoon, his publicist, Cherry Bañez, told the AJC. Asked if he specifically denies the allegation, she repeated that Jackson was "in the process of clarifying things."

Petty, who said he later learned that the watch had been stolen from Jackson's Lions teammate,  wrote in the report that he has since been unable to contact the former Falcon.

Duluth police issued the warrant on Tuesday. Bañez said her client is currently out of state.

Jackson, who played 16 games for the Falcons in 2006 and seven in 2007, owns a barbershop in Lawrenceville. He's also on the roster of the United Football League's Florida Tuskers.