Pete Carroll: Quinton Dunbar back in Seahawks’ virtual training as he awaits trial process
After a brief pause, and jailing, Quinton Dunbar is back participating with the Seahawks in their virtual offseason.
Coach Pete Carroll commented for the first time Thursday about Dunbar’s arrest in his native Florida last month on four felony charges of armed robbery. During an online Zoom call, Carroll said he did not have any information (at least not to share) on what’s next for Seattle’s new cornerback in his case.
Prosecutors in Broward County, Florida, have been reviewing evidence for weeks to determine whether to proceed with a trial for Dunbar and co-defendant DeAndre Baker, a cornerback with the New York Giants.
Sunday will be a full month since an arrest warrant was issued for Dunbar. That was a day after alleged robberies of jewelry and cash at a house party in Miramar, Fla.
A spokesperson for the 17th Circuit Court of Florida in Fort Lauderdale did not return a message from The News Tribune earlier this week seeking a status update on the case.
“He’s been very open with the discussions of what’s taken place, and the whole process going on,” Carroll said of Dunbar Thursday.
“I don’t have the details of where that is right now. We can’t comment on that, anyway.
“We have been very much connected with him and what is next and all of that.”
Dunbar’s Miami-based attorney, Michael Grieco, has told The News Tribune he obtained sworn affidavits from the same four victims and a witness at the party a Miramar police detective used as his basis for his arrest warrant request. Greico said those five people “completely recanted” what they told police and said in his sworn affidavits “that Dunbar was in no way involved.”
Grieco presented that evidence in a court hearing last month. Judge Michael Davis in the 17th Circuit Court of Florida in Fort Lauderdale set a bail of $100,000 in that hearing. Dunbar was released from jail on bail May 16.
Terms of that release include him remaining in Florida and checking in twice per week at least by telephone with a Broward County pretrial services official.
Dunbar has entered pleas of not guilty to all four charges May 19.
A few days after his release Dunbar rejoined the Seahawks’ virtual offseason training of Zoom calls online. The NFL has canceled all offseason practices because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Seahawks traded a fifth-round draft choice to Washington in March to obtain Dunbar. The idea is he may become their new starting cornerback opposite Pro Bowl selection Shaquill Griffin. Both Dunbar and Griffin are entering the final years of their contracts.
The Seahawks are scheduled to begin training camp at their currently closed team facility in Renton July 28. Carroll said Thursday the league is exploring the possibility of players reporting in mid-July for an acclimation period, though the players’ union would have to approve that change to the NFL collective bargaining agreement.
In any case, Dunbar has no job need to leave Florida for the Seattle area until at least next month.
Four victims and one other witness gave conflicting reports to police whether Dunbar had a gun during the robberies they depict Baker led, of expensive watches and thousands of dollars in cash at the party at a residence in Miramar that began at 8 p.m. May 13. One witness said Dunbar had and showed a gun. Multiple others said he did not.
One witness said Dunbar and Baker had lost $70,000 at a party earlier that week.
Chapter 812.13 of the 2019 Florida Statutes states, in part: “If in the course of committing the robbery the offender carried a firearm or other deadly weapon, then the robbery is a felony of the first degree, punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding life imprisonment or as provided in (other statutory guidelines).”
Florida has a minimum-sentencing law that requires a sentence of at least 10 years in prison for anyone convicted of a felony while using or attempting to use a firearm.
If in the course of committing a robbery the offender did not use a firearm or deadly weapon, then the same Florida statute says the robbery is a felony in the second degree.
For now, Dunbar, Carroll and the Seahawks await the decision of the prosecutors on whether and how to proceed.
“It seems like things are taking a...you know, I shouldn’t even say...I don’t even know,” Carroll said. “We are following along with him.
“He is back and participating with us and focusing real well. We’ll see what happens with that.”
