One NFL player has seen his arrest video released to the public. The news of the arrest startled fans across the league especially given the details of “why” he was arrested. Now we are seeing exactly what happened in the moments before he was placed in handcuffs.
It has provided a lot more context. Here are the details.
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Zachariah Branch was booked on two charges — one count of obstructing public sidewalks/streets and one count of obstruction of a law enforcement officer. NFL – Via Athens-Clarke County Police
NFL Star Sees Arrest Video Released To Public
According to new police video obtained by The California Post on Friday, Zachariah Branch was arrested while standing on a sidewalk with dozens of others.
A few days before he was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the wide receiver was arrested by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department just after midnight on April 19, in Athens, Ga.
There is no audio in the newly-released body camera footage for the first 28 seconds, however it seems a cop who is attempting to disperse a large crowd outside of a crowded bar orders Branch and others to leave.
Branch takes a few steps to his left after what appears to be a brief conversation with the officer, before settling among several other bystanders who are standing still. Here is the video:
EXCLUSIVE: Bodycam footage from bizarre Zachariah Branch arrest emerges: ‘He smirked at me’ https://t.co/q0YmB3QRmf pic.twitter.com/qyiliM8zqy
— California Post Sports (@capostsports) June 5, 2026
Here is a transcript of what happened:
As Branch was being escorted to a nearby squad car, he was adamant he “didn’t do anything.”
The cop, however, insisted he committed a crime.
“I told you to move from blocking the sidewalk,” she said. “I gave you a legal order and you did not listen.”
“Ma’am,” Branch replied, “I was trying to walk away. What are we doing?”
The cop then went more in depth about why she arrested Branch with someone who had been with the former UGA receiver earlier in the evening.
“He should have moved the first three times I told him to move,” she said. “He looked at me, he smirked at me, and then he did it again. That’s obstruction.”
“I asked him if he wanted to be the example,” she later added. “And he chose to be the example. He made that decision. You cannot undo it for him. He’s going to jail.”
Ultimately, Branch was taken to a nearby jail and booked on two counts – one for obstructing public sidewalks/streets and one for obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
However, Branch’s lawyer announced on Wednesday that the case had been dropped by prosecutors.
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