Ex-Detroit Lions CB Cam Sutton charged with misdemeanor count of domestic battery

Former Detroit Lions cornerback Cam Sutton appeared in a Florida court Monday where he was charged with one misdemeanor count of domestic battery.

Sutton, who turned himself in to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office late Sunday, was released on his own recognizance, Erin Maloney, communications officer for the Florida state's attorney office in the 13th judicial circuit, told the Free Press by email.

Sutton had been wanted for weeks in Florida after police issued a warrant for his arrest March 7 on a felony count of domestic battery by strangulation.

Officers responded to an early-morning call of a domestic violence incident in progress and found a female victim with wounds that indicated an altercation took place, Phil Martello, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, told the Free Press last month.

Sutton fled the scene before police arrived, and the sheriff’s department took to social media March 20 to ask for help locating him.

The incident came one day after court records show Sutton took part in a Zoom hearing in a paternity case. Another hearing in the case scheduled for March 7 was canceled.

The Lions learned of Sutton’s legal troubles through social media on March 20, team president Rod Wood said last week. Wood said Sutton was in the building, "unexpectedly" working out with the team's strength staff, when news of the warrant for his arrest broke.

The Lions encouraged Sutton to turn himself into police, Wood said, then released Sutton the next day.

"We were learning it the same moment you guys were learning about the warrant," Wood told reporters March 25 at the NFL's annual meeting. "Actually, I was on a Zoom call with the league on another matter when it popped up on my phone. As soon as that call wrapped up, we kind of quickly convened and talked about it. We were able to reach Cam and talk about it, and suggested that he get counsel and do the right thing to turn himself in. And then after that, we met the rest of the day and then the following morning to decide to release him."

Neither Sutton nor his attorney, Jason Setchen, has responded to messages seeking comment.

Setchen and attorney Todd Foster released a statement through Bleacher Report that read in part, "Mr. Sutton and the mother of his children request privacy in this matter, as they view this as a family matter and wish to resolve it as a family."

One of the Lions’ top free agent additions last spring, Sutton had a disappointing first season with the Lions. He made 65 tackles and had one interception while starting all 17 regular season games, but struggled late in the season and in the playoffs against opposing No. 1 receivers.

The Lions traded for Carlton Davis III, signed Amik Robertson in free agency and re-signed Emmanuel Moseley to bolster their secondary this offseason. Sutton was expected to play as the team's No. 2 cornerback opposite Davis this fall, with Robertson and Emmanuel Moseley serving as the team's top backups.

Sutton was due a fully guaranteed base salary of $10.5 million this fall, though the Lions are seeking to void the guarantees on his contract.

They released him with a June 1 designation, which allows them to spread his dead cap hit — about $8.7 million, once his guarantees void — over two years.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him@davebirkett.