Details Emerge Following Sha’Carri Richardson’s Arrest and Assault Charge During U.S. Championships Week
Just as the 2025 U.S. National Track and Field Championships got underway in Eugene on Thursday, it has now been confirmed that reigning 100m world champion Sha’Carri Richardson was arrested and charged with assault earlier this week in Washington state. The revelation comes after days of speculation that the star sprinter had been detained, with no formal confirmation until now.
According to a police report from the Port of Seattle Police Department, Richardson was arrested on the evening of July 27 following a disturbance at TSA checkpoint 4 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac). The incident took place around 5:54 p.m. local time, just days before she was set to compete at the national championships.
Per the report, the responding officer wrote:
“On July 27, 2025 at approximately 1754 hours, while working as a uniformed police officer for the Port of Seattle Police Department at SeaTac International Airport… I was dispatched to TSA checkpoint 4 for a reported disturbance.”
The altercation involved Richardson and fellow U.S. sprinter Christian Coleman, whom a TSA employee identified to police at the scene. Officer Tyler contacted Richardson, while another officer spoke with Coleman, who initially declined to cooperate.
“I told him the reason for the contact and asked him if something had occurred at the checkpoint. Coleman was reluctant to talk to me and initially told me he got into an argument, which then became heated… I asked Coleman if there was shoving or anything physical and he denied anything physical had occurred.”
Coleman also refused to provide his identification and expressed no interest in participating in further investigation.
However, the officers later reviewed airport security footage, which, according to the report, told a very different story. The officer detailed the following sequence of events:
“Just outside of the screening area, Richardson is following and getting close to Coleman several times as Coleman appears to be trying to walk away. Richardson then pushes Coleman hard enough that it sends him crashing into a nearby column.”
The report continues:
“Coleman continues to try to walk away in an effort to get away from Richardson but she continues to bump into him and get into his personal space. She again pushes Coleman, again hard enough that it sends him flying a few feet away.”
“At this point, it appears Coleman goes back to the TSA screening lanes in an attempt to get help. Richardson continues to follow him, still getting close to his personal space, and she throws a pair of headphones at [him], striking him somewhere on his body.”
After reviewing the video and consulting with additional responding officers, including Officer Cambronero, probable cause was established to arrest Richardson for Domestic Violence Assault in the Fourth Degree (RCW 9A.36.041.2).
Although Coleman declined to press charges or continue with the investigation, he was provided with a domestic violence resource guide. The police noted that Coleman was likely flying to Eugene on Alaska Airlines flight AS3206 or ASI 61.
The report further confirms:
“I placed Richardson into custody for the DV Assault 4 and eventually advised her of her Miranda Rights, in verbatim, from my OTC issued Miranda card. She was booked into SCORE Jail, citation 5A0494816. She stated she understood her Rights.”
While speculation had circulated earlier in the week about Richardson being detained, there had been no official confirmation until these documents were made public on Friday — a day after the U.S. Championships began.
Richardson competed in the 100m on Thursday and placed second in her heat, but she will take no further part in the competition. She has also withdrawn from the 200m. As the defending world champion in the 100m, Richardson is automatically qualified for the 2025 World Championships, but is required to appear at the national championships to demonstrate fitness.
The Port of Seattle Police Department noted that full sequencing of events and exact quotes can be found in the body-worn camera footage, which was activated during the incident. The initial report serves as a generalized summary, with further supplemental narratives available from the other officers involved.
As of publication, neither Richardson nor Coleman has issued a public statement.
