Atlanta authorities have accused former NFL player, Edawn Coughman, of destroying his business and making it look like a hate crime.
According to a local CNN affiliate, Gwinnett County police have arrested Coughman on charges of false report of a crime, insurance fraud, and concealing a license plate. These charges follow the report that a robbery took place at Create and Bake Restaurant and Coughman’s Creamery on Wednesday. The witness told police that the car carrying the suspect had no license plate. When police arrived they saw that the business had been vandalized with "racially-motivated" words, swastikas, "MAGA," as well as other damages.
"Several booth cushions were sliced open. They also found broken mirrors, cut wires, and a damaged video surveillance system," the police told CNN. "The smell of spray paint was very fresh. When officers touched it, the paint appeared wet."
The next day, police saw Coughman driving a car that matched the witness's description. Authorities discovered "several televisions in the bed of the truck and inside the cab" which reportedly were "still attached to the brackets with damaged drywall" from the creamery. This prompted the police to arrest Coughman. After he was taken into custody, Coughman told the officers that he noticed the damages and reported the vandalism to his insurance company but he didn't file a police report. Police also found a yellow crowbar and cans of black spray paint once they searched his vehicle.
"It appears as though Edawn conjured a premeditated plan to damage his own property, attempt to make it appear as a hate crime, file a claim with his insurance company, and sell off the undamaged appliances and electronics," the police report states.
The former offensive tackle played four seasons in the NFL. He was released on bail the day of his arrest. Per his attorney, Jackie Patterson, Coughman is the victim in the crime and will be exonerated in court.
"Coughman is presumed innocent like anyone else who is accused of a crime," Patterson said. "[D]on't prejudge him without knowing all the facts."
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