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Sunday 17 May 2020

NFL star Deandre Baker turns himself in to Florida police after he and Quinton Dunbar 'robbed Miami party-goers at gunpoint' - as Baker's attorney says there is 'video evidence' proving his innocence

NFL star Deandre Baker has turned himself in to Florida police over armed robbery charges, after he and Quinton Dunbar were accused of holding Miami party-goers at gunpoint and stealing thousands in cash and designer watches.
The New York Giants cornerback, 22, surrendered to the Miramar Police Department Saturday morning, as his attorney announced there was 'video evidence' proving Baker's innocence. 
Warrants were issued Thursday for the arrest of Baker and Dunbar, 27, on four counts of armed robbery with a firearm, after multiple witnesses accused them of committing a 'planned' armed robbery at a party in the early hours of the morning. 
Baker also faces an additional four counts of aggravated assault.  
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Dunbar had not yet turned himself in to police as of Saturday morning and remains at large. 
Baker's attorney Bradley Cohen announced his client's surrender and said he had a 'trove' of evidence that exonerates him in an Instagram post early Saturday.
'We will be presenting the trove of evidence we have obtained over the past 3 days to the judge at the right time,' Cohen wrote. 
'Seven affidavits exonerating my client and video evidence.' 
He also urged people not to 'rush to [judgment]' over the allegations.
'Police reports are just that, reports of what was told to them or said to them,' Cohen wrote. 
'Court is what we use to then examine those reports, investigate those claims and allow the Defendant an opportunity to confront the evidence. Don't rush to [judgment].'

Dunbar's attorney has also claimed there is evidence that exonerates his client.  
Attorney Michael Grieco told The Seattle Times Friday he had handed over sworn statements from five witnesses to the Broward County State Attorney's Office that would clear Dunbar's name.
'The affidavits are the exact opposite of what they told the police two days ago,' said Grieco.
'Either they lied in their affidavits today or they lied to the police. Maybe they will lie again and tell the police that the first statement was accurate. I don't care. What I care about is that my client, who has never been in trouble in his life, is being forced to surrender on a (expletive) case that no self-respecting prosecutor would ever file. So if they know that they would never file it, why would they move forward on a warrant?' 
DailyMail.com has reached out to Miramar Police Department for comment.
New York Giants cornerback Baker, 22, (pictured) surrendered to the Miramar Police Department Saturday morning, as his attorney announced there was 'video evidence' proving his innocence
New York Giants cornerback Baker, 22, (pictured) surrendered to the Miramar Police Department Saturday morning, as his attorney announced there was 'video evidence' proving his innocence 
Warrants were issued Thursday for the arrest of Baker (above) and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar, 27, on four counts of armed robbery with a firearm
Quinton Dunbar (above) has not yet turned himself in to police
Warrants were issued Thursday for the arrest of Baker (left) and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar (right), 27, on four counts of armed robbery with a firearm. Dunbar has not yet turned himself in to police 
Tania Rues, public information officer for the Miramar Police Department, told The NY Post Friday law enforcement hoped the suspects would turn themselves in. 
'Obviously we're hoping just to simplify things that they turn themselves in within a reasonable amount of time,' she said.
'Yes, there are warrants out for their arrest and if they do not turn themselves in, this is just in general terms, if someone with a warrant for his arrest with these types of charges, if they don't turn themselves in within a reasonable amount of time obviously there are other avenues we can take.'  
The Miramar Police Department announced Thursday they were searching for the two NFL stars following the incident hours earlier. 
The two Miami natives had been attending a cookout at a home near Miami on Wednesday night, playing cards and video games when a fight allegedly broke out. 
In arrest warrants observed by DailyMail.com, witnesses say the fracas started when Baker flipped over a card table. 
Baker is then said to have 'whipped out a semi-automatic firearm', and began directing three individuals, one of whom was Dunbar, to start robbing the guests at the gathering.
Quinton Dunbar
Arrest warrants for Deandre Baker and Quinton Dunbar are shown above
Deandre Baker
Arrest warrants for Deandre Baker and Quinton Dunbar are shown above
Baker also directed a masked assailant, identified as 'Shy' in police documents, to shoot an unidentified person that had just walked into the party as the robbery was taking place.
One victim told police he was 'in fear for his life' while Baker pointed the handgun at him, but nobody was shot during the incident and no injuries were reported.
The masked assailant took $800 and an $18,000 Rolex from one guest at Baker's direction, and $7,000 and a $25,000 Hublot watch from another, the report states.
Baker then pointed a gun towards another guest and ordered him to 'give him all his money', which amounted to $600 cash and a 'knock-off' Richard Mille watch valued at $600.
Witnesses gave investigators conflicting reports about whether Dunbar was armed or not. Several said they saw him with a gun, though others claimed he was unarmed but they did hear him directing others to steal valuables.
Police said the four men then fled via the patio door of the home and split up into three vehicles: a Mercedes Benz, a Lamborghini and a BMW.
Witnesses said the vehicles were parked in such a way that would make it easy for them to leave quickly, leading detectives to believe the robbery was planned.
The incident took place just two days after Baker and Dunbar allegedly lost $70,000 gambling at another party, the arrest warrant says. 
If found guilty of holding a semi-automatic weapon, Baker could face 60 years in prison - a minimum of 15 years for each of the four armed robbery charges.
Dunbar would face a minimum of 10 years of jail time if found guilty. 
Witnesses gave investigators conflicting reports about whether Dunbar was armed or not. Several said they saw him with a gun, but others claimed he was unarmed though they did report hearing him directing others to steal valuables
Witnesses gave investigators conflicting reports about whether Dunbar was armed or not. Several said they saw him with a gun, but others claimed he was unarmed though they did report hearing him directing others to steal valuables
After being taken with the 30th overall pick out of Georgia, Baker played in all 16 games for the Giants in 2019, starting 15 times and recording 61 tackles. 
He has a base salary of $1.4 million for 2020, but that does not include incentives. Baker earned over $6 million as a rookie in salary and his signing bonus. 
'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 the Washington Redskins 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 on the video conference. 
He is slated to earn $3.4 million in 2020, according to Spotrac.com, but that is not fully guaranteed. 

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