It's been quite the weekend for Tharold Simon.
Less than 48 hours after being arrested in his Louisiana hometown, the former LSU cornerback was taken by the Seattle Seahawks with the 138th overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Friday was supposed to be "Tharold Simon Day" in Eunice, La., a city of just more than 10,000 about 80 miles west of Baton Rogue. Simon's family had reserved a room at the Southeast Community Center and the mayor was scheduled to read a proclamation at the NFL draft party. But then Simon was arrested late Thursday on suspicion of intimidating a police officer and the celebration was cancelled.
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According to initial reports, a police officer asked Simon to move his parked car, which was allegedly blocking a residential street. Simon reportedly told the officer "I own Eunice" before cranking up his radio and spinning his tires while backing up "the vehicle in an aggressive manner."
When Simon was told he was under arrest, he initially refused to turn around to be handcuffed and also was charged with resisting an officer.
Eunice Police Chief Ronald Dies told NFL.com that Simon was not intoxicated and alcohol or drugs did not play a part in Simon's arrest. Dies said Simon was apologetic and "very cooperative" afterwards. Simon was released on $11,000 bond.
"He said that he was just showing off in front of his friends and he said that he guessed that he messed up," Dies said in The Eunice News. "And he did."
Simon, listed at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, will fit in with Seattle's tall, physical "Legion of Boom" secondary. Soon after the draft announcement, Simon shared on Twitter that he had already spoken with Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.
And once the judge gets a chance to review (and drop) the charges, we're sure "Tharold Simon Day" will be back on.
Let's just hope he parties responsibly.
