US men’s national team defender and former MLS All-Star Miles Robinson was arrested on Saturday after police allege that he refused to pay for a $5 shot of liquor at an Atlanta bar.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution obtained a police report stating that Robinson was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor theft before being released on a $150 bond. The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office confirms that Robinson was arrested and later released.
Per the report, Robinson took a shot of liquor at sports bar PBR Atlanta and refused to pay the waitress. ESPN published details of the police report stating that a bartender alerted management, which requested that police escort Robinson from the property and be “criminally trespassed.”
Per the report, police told Robinson that he could avoid arrest by paying the $5 tab and that he declined while responding: “All this over five dollars, bro … “
“Detective Goduto then explained to him that all he had to do was pay his bill and that if he did not pay the bill the manager wanted to press charges for theft,” the report states. “Robinson once again stated all this was over five dollars. Robinson did not indicate that he was going to pay the bill.”
Robinson is quoted in the police report of accusing the bartender of being racist.
“Robinson stated, ‘You only want to listen to the racist bartender, you aren’t going to listen to me,'” the report states.
The police report continues that Robinson “stated that the situation was because he was the only black male inside of the bar.”
Robinson, a centerback for the Atlanta United, has not publicly addressed his arrest. The United confirmed knowledge of his arrest in a statement.
“We are aware of a recent misdemeanor arrest involving Miles Robinson,” the statement reads. “We are continuing to gather all information related to the incident and will not have further comment at this time.”
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Robinson, 25, was selected to the MLS All-Star team for the first time in 2021. He finished third in voting for MLS Defender of the Year. He tore his right Achilles tendon on May 7 and hasn’t played since. After playing for the US U-20 and U-23 teams, Robinson was called up for his senior USMNT debut in 2019. Prior to his injury he was expected to play a prominent role for Team USA at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.