A look at Richard Sherman’s ‘Extreme Risk Protection Order’

SEATTLE — Following the arrest and release of former Seahawk Richard Sherman, KIRO 7 takes a look at potential charges and an existing Extreme Risk Protection Order that was filed against the free agent in February.

Outside, a security camera caught tense moments as the former Seahawk cornerback repeatedly slammed into the door at his in-laws’ Redmond home.

Inside, Richard’s wife, Ashley, and some of his extended family can be heard screaming as calls continued to pour into police dispatch centers.

“What’s going on?” a dispatcher can be heard asking, in 911 calls obtained by KIRO 7.

“My husband is crazy,” Ashley Sherman responded. “We’ve already had to call the police four times!”

“I brought the kids here to be safe,” Ashley told the dispatcher. “He showed up here, oh my gosh.”

A minute into the surveillance video, Sherman begins to pound against the door again.

The dispatcher told Ashley police would be there in two minutes.

“I need you here faster, I need you here faster than that, he keeps trying to kick in the door!” Ashley responded.

Sherman was taken into custody outside of that home just before 2 a.m., bringing an end to a series of events including a single-vehicle crash near a construction site off State Route 520, which took place half an hour earlier.

According to 911 calls released Wednesday, Sherman was aggressive, suicidal and drunk and when he and Ashley both left their Maple Valley home in separate cars.

According to police, Ashley first called 911 around 11:39 p.m. on Tuesday.

“It’s Richard Sherman, like ma’am, this is a (expletive) emergency, I need officers here now,” Ashley said.

“I’m handling this, you need to stop telling me that,” the dispatcher responded.

The dispatcher received scrutiny for the way they handled the initial call.

Ashley told dispatch she brought her kids to her parent’s home in Redmond to be safe.

According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, this isn’t the first time Sherman posed a risk to himself or others.

In February, an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) was filed against him with the King County Sheriff’s Office. The order barred him from having a firearm.

An ERPO is a civil tool that is used to temporarily remove firearm access for people threatening themselves or others in the near future.

After an ERPO is requested, the court determines if it is necessary based on whether the individual in question is displaying threatening or violent behavior, has made threats of self-harm or is abusing drugs or alcohol.

According to the prosecutor’s office, Sherman was the first public figure to receive an ERPO.

Given the high-profile nature of the case, a judge agreed to seal the case for six months, keeping it out of the public eye to protect Sherman’s mental state.

Those documents will be unsealed on Aug. 3.

KCPAO said the current case will not change the date that Sherman’s ERPO can become public, due to the fact that it was part of a separate civil action which was approved by a judge.

Sherman was released from the King County Jail at 5:42 p.m. on Thursday.

Sherman was formally charged Friday with with driving under the influence, reckless endangerment of roadway workers, second-degree criminal trespass – domestic violence, resisting arrest and third-degree malicious mischief – domestic violence.

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