The Detroit Lions released cornerback Cam Sutton on Thursday, one day after they learned there was a warrant out for his arrest on one count of domestic battery by strangulation.
According to authorities, Sutton was involved in a domestic dispute in the early morning hours of March 7 in Lutz, Florida, a suburb of Tampa.
Officers responded to a call of a domestic violence incidence in progress shortly before 5 a.m. and found the victim with wounds that indicated an altercation took place, Phil Martello, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, told the Free Press on Wednesday.
Sutton fled the scene before police arrived, and has been avoiding law enforcement since, Martello said.
WHO IS CAM SUTTON: He saved lives, now he is the heart and soul of the Lions defense
A spokesperson for the sheriff's office told the Free Press that Sutton still had not turned himself in to authorities as of noon Thursday. He is not considered a missing person, the spokesperson said.
Sutton's attorney, Jason Setchen, has not responded to messages seeking comment.
The Lions said in a statement Wednesday they became aware of the incident earlier in the day.
Sutton had a disappointing first season with the Lions after signing a three-year, $33 million deal last March . 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 No. 1 receivers.
TRENDING: Lions might have league's best roster, and that gives them options in NFL draft
The Lions traded for Carlton Davis III , signed free agent Amik Robertson and re-signed Emmanuel Moseley to bolster their secondary this offseason. Davis was expected to start as the team's No. 1 cornerback, with Robertson and Moseley serving as the team's top backups. The No. 2 cornerback spot is now up for grabs.
Sutton was scheduled to make $10.5 million this fall, though the Lions will seek to void the base salary guarantees in his contract.
The Lions designated Sutton a post-June 1 release, which allows them to spread the dead money cap hit from his contract — $8.72 million — over two seasons.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him @davebirkett .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cam Sutton released by Detroit Lions after domestic violence incident
