Boston — Previous Detroit Lions An American football player accused of hitting a man and urinating on another during a flight from Boston to Dublin has been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, Massachusetts State Police said Monday.
Josder Cherilos, the Lions’ first-round pick who also played for the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was arrested early Sunday after his Delta Air Lines flight returned to Logan International Airport.
The 40-year-old man from Wakefield, near Boston, was ordered off the plane by security officers but “became angry and uncooperative,” police said. He was then arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and disturbing the flight crew.
According to the police report, the man appeared drunk when he boarded the plane, allegedly argued with the flight crew over his seat, and an hour into the flight, urinated on an elderly passenger. He then hit another passenger and took that passenger’s seat before losing consciousness, the report said.
The Boston Globe reported that Cherillos appeared in U.S. District Court in East Boston on Monday.
“What you did was absolutely terrible, as alleged,” Judge Deborah A. Delvecchio told Cherillos.
Cherillos’ phone number could not be found. The Globe reported that he and his attorney, Brian Sullivan, did not speak to reporters as they left court.
In a statement Monday, Delta confirmed there was an “unruly customer” on the flight, and that other passengers were later transferred to Dublin. The airline did not say how long the flight was delayed.
“Delta has zero tolerance for illegal behavior and will cooperate with law enforcement to this end,” the company said in a statement. “We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel.”
Cherilos was selected 17th overall by the Lions in the 2008 NFL Draft out of Boston College. He played five seasons with the Lions, appearing in 75 games, including 71 starts.
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