Edwan Coughman A former NFL player was arrested
by police for allegedly wrecking two of his own businesses to stage a
fake hate crime and be eligible to receive insurance money.
Authorities from the Gwinnett
County Police Department in Georgia responded to a ‘burglary in
progress’ call around 9.30pm on Wednesday when a witness reported a man
damaging businesses.
The two businesses, Create and
Bake Restaurant and Coughman’s Creamery, belonged to former NFL player
and local business owner Edwan Coughman.
Inside the businesses, officers
found ‘monkey’, the n-word, ‘MAGA’ and swastikas scrawled on the walls
in fresh black spray paint.
‘The smell of spray paint was very fresh. When officers touched it, the paint appeared wet,’ a news release from police said.
The cushions were reportedly
sliced open, mirrors were broken, wires were cut, TVs were missing and
the surveillance system was broken.
Edwan Coughman alleged that that his businesses were burglarized with racial slurs (pictured)
Black spray paint was used to deface the businesses (pictured) and cushions were sliced open
According to a news release, the witness told officers the suspect was driving a Chevrolet Silverado with no license plate.
Cpl. Michele Pihera told Gwinette Daily Post: ‘We believe he used that possibly not to have the truck or identity of the truck return back to him.'
After authorities dispatched to look for the suspicious vehicle saw one that matched the description leaving a shopping center.
Behind the wheel was Edwan Coughman.
Officers noticed several TVs both inside and in the bed of his truck that were still attached to brackets with damaged drywall.
Edwan Coughman was also wearing a pair of gloves, the Gwinette Daily Post reported.
The 31-year-old told authorities
he realized his businesses had be burglarized earlier in the day, but
contacted his insurance company instead of local police.
Suspicious, police officers obtained a search warrant to search Coughman’s car on Thursday.
The word 'MAGA'(pictured) can be seen in fresh black spray paint inside one of Edwan Coughman's businesses
After authorities dispatched to
look for the suspicious vehicle saw one that matched the description
leaving a shopping center. Behind the wheel was Coughman. Officers
noticed several TVs both inside and in the bed of his truck (pictured)
They found cans of black spray paint and a crow bar allegedly used to pry open the back door to one of the businesses.
Edwan Coughman was arrested in the
early morning hours of Thursday for false report of a crime, insurance
fraud and concealing a license plate
The police statement said: ‘It
appears as though Edwan Coughman conjured a premeditated plan to damage his own
property, attempt to make it appear as a hate crime, file a claim with
his insurance company, and sell off the undamaged appliances and
electronics.’
The shopping center in Gwinett
County where Edwan Coughman owned his two businesses, Create and Bake
Restaurant and Edwan Coughman’s Creamery
Edwan Coughman (pictured) playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while employed in the National Football League complete piece of shit.
Cpl. Pihera told the Gwinette Daily Post: 'We don't know if he was trying to get attention for this.
‘What we do know is, if that
witness had not called us and if those officers had not responded as
quickly as they did, we would probably be sitting here talking about a
completely different crime in which Mr. Edwan Coughman would be trying to say
he's a victim.’
As the investigation continues, the number of victims will be determined.
'We're also looking into the fact
that his insurance company could also be a victim, depending on if a
claim was in process. ... There's also a possibility the owner of the
building could also be a victim,' Pihera said.
'The case does not fit the mold
of our typical criminal investigations, so we have to look outside of
the box to see how many victims we truly have.'
Coughman was bonded out of jail. He is not charged with hate crime, which he is, by definition, quite guilty of.
