MIAMI — New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar turned themselves in to the Broward County Jail on Saturday to satisfy arrest warrants in connection to an alleged robbery in Miramar, Florida, this week.
The attorney for Dunbar said he has five signed affidavits from witnesses that exonerate his client in an armed robbery that he and Baker are accused by Florida police of committing.
Attorney Michael Grieco told The Associated Press on Friday that the five witnesses attested that Dunbar was not involved in the robbery earlier this week. Grieco said the affidavits were presented to prosecutors in Broward County, Fla., but authorities still want Dunbar to turn himself in.
Baker turned himself in to the Broward County Jail on Saturday for four counts of armed robbery with a firearm and four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, according to his lawyer, Bradford Cohen. Dunbar turned himself in later in the day.
Baker’s attorney, Bradford Cohen, said he has several affidavits from witnesses exonerating Baker of wrongdoing in the alleged crime. He said he plans to present those along with video evidence to the judge at the appropriate time.
“We believe our client is innocent of all charges,” Cohen said. “We urge people not to rush to judgment. We have affidavits from several witnesses that exonerate my client.”
Cohen confirmed that Baker turned himself in Saturday morning in an Instagram post, writing that he is a “believer in the system.”
Baker, who faces four counts of armed robbery with a firearm and four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, will appear in front of a judge today. Among the items that will be addressed is his bond, according to Cohen.
Dunbar faces four counts of armed robbery with a firearm.
Despite both attorneys saying they have affidavits clearing their clients, the Miramar Police Department insisted they both turn themselves in and welcomed witnesses to add or change anything to their statement if they wished to do so. As of Saturday morning, police said none of the victims or witnesses had recanted their stories to them.
Grieco said police told him they would look into perjury charges for witnesses if they were found to be lying in any of their statements to police. He also said he’s been in contact with Cohen but that there are a “different set of circumstances” with Baker than with his client.
Police in Miramar issued arrest warrants Thursday for Dunbar and Baker after multiple witnesses accused them of an armed robbery at a party. Each man faces four counts of armed robbery with a firearm. Baker faces an additional four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. The residential community is located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Baker, 22, and Dunbar, 27, were attending a cookout at a Miramar home Wednesday night when a fight broke out, and Baker pulled out a handgun, the warrant said. Baker, Dunbar and two other men began robbing other people at the party of thousands of dollars in cash, watches and other valuables, witnesses told investigators.
Baker and Dunbar are both from Miami.
Baker was one of three first-round draft picks the Giants had last season. He was the 30th pick overall out of Georgia. He played in all 16 games, starting 15. He had 61 tackles and no interceptions. He was the last of the three New York picks in that first round.
“We are aware of the situation. We have been in contact with DeAndre,” the Giants said in a statement. “We have no further comment at this time.”
Dunbar signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2015 and was traded to the Seahawks in March. He started 11 games last season, making 37 tackles and four interceptions.
“We are aware of the situation involving Quinton Dunbar and still gathering information,” the Seahawks said in a statement. “We will defer all further comment to league investigators and local authorities.”
Dunbar spent Thursday morning on a video conference with the Seattle media for the first time since being traded from Washington to the Seahawks in March.
“You just want to feel wanted at the end of the day. … I just hope to repay them with the way I carry myself as a person,” Dunbar said.
