A Canadian offensive lineman for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals is one of four people facing charges in an investigation by Durham Regional Police's guns and gangs unit.
Isaiah Adams, who turned 26 on Tuesday, was charged with "possess firearm obtained by crime, possess restricted/prohibited firearm – no licence, possess loaded firearm, and possess prohibited device" last weekend, police said.
Jaelin Gamble, Natasha Rotta and Allyson Adams also were charged with various weapon and drug trafficking offences.
None of the charges have been proven in court. All four were held for a bail hearing.
Isaiah Adams is a native of Ajax, Ont., in Durham Region near Toronto.
In an email statement to Sportsnet.ca on Tuesday, Adams' lawyer Adam Weisberg wrote: "Isaiah is completely innocent in this matter — he had no knowledge of any firearm, and he will be fully exonerated."
In a statement provided to Arizona Sports, the Cardinals said: “We are aware of the situation involving Isaiah Adams. Out of respect for the process, we will refrain from commenting further at this time.”
Police say officers concluded an investigation last Friday into a male believed to be in possession of a firearm and involved in drug trafficking.
The suspect and another female were then located in a vehicle in Ajax and arrested. A search of the vehicle found over three kilograms of suspected fentanyl.
Investigators later executed a search warrant of a residence in neighbouring Pickering, Ont., where a second female was arrested. A loaded firearm and replica Uzi firearm were found in the residence. Police say the loaded firearm was stolen from the state of Georgia.
Police say a fourth suspect turned himself in to police last Sunday.
A third-round pick out of Illinois by the Cardinals and the top Canadian selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Adams has appeared in 32 games the last two years, including 16 starts.
Adams started his college career at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont. in 2018 before transferring to Garden City Community College in Kansas and then Illinois.
Adams went undrafted in the CFL, which is common for players with significant NFL interest.
The CFL's Edmonton Elks placed Adams on their negotiation list on Tuesday.
Each CFL team maintains a negotiation list of up to 45 players who are currently either unsigned or playing in the NFL, in another professional league, or in college.
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