- Olympic sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson was arrested after a traffic stop and booked on a charge of dangerous excessive speeding of 100 mph or more.
- Bodycam footage shows deputies saying she drove 104 mph in a 65-mph zone while weaving, flashing lights, following too closely and cutting off a vehicle.
- In the video Richardson pleads not to be jailed, cites an underinflated rear tire and says she did not realize how fast she was driving.
- Fellow sprinter Christian Coleman was detained and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting without violence; he posted a $1,000 cash bond.
WINTER PARK, FLORIDA — Olympic sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, 25, was arrested after a traffic stop in which she repeatedly asked a deputy not to take her to jail, according to body camera footage that shows her pleading from inside her car after being pulled over for what deputies described as dangerous, excessive speeding.
Deputy Described Dangerous Speed and Driving Pattern
The bodycam video captures a deputy telling Richardson she was being stopped for “dangerous, excessive speed.” In the footage and incident details described in reports, Richardson is accused of driving 104 mph in a 65-mph zone while weaving through lanes, flashing her lights at other drivers, following too closely, and cutting off a law enforcement vehicle during the stop attempt.
The deputy is also heard describing the vehicle’s condition as “subpar equipment” during the exchange.
Richardson Pointed to Tire Issue and Other Factors
During the stop, Richardson offered several explanations for the speed shown in the footage, including that a rear tire was underinflated. She also claimed she did not realize how fast the vehicle was traveling.
At one point in the video, Richardson tells the deputy she does not want to go to jail and asks to be let go, while the deputy responds that the driving behavior observed was dangerous.
Arrest and Charges Listed in Booking Details
Richardson was booked into the Orange County Jail and charged with dangerous excessive speeding at 100 mph or more, according to the report. She was also cited for four civil traffic infractions.
Other Detentions and Citations Reported at the Scene
The report also stated that Richardson’s boyfriend, fellow U.S. sprinter Christian Coleman, was taken into custody during the same traffic stop and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer without violence, according to court records cited in the report.
Another sprinter, Twanisha Terry, was also issued a ticket after she pulled up to the scene and stopped on a limited-access highway, according to the report. Coleman later posted a $1,000 cash bond, paying $500 for himself and $500 for Richardson, the report stated.
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