Ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL player, 31, is charged with trashing two of his own restaurants and spraying the N-word and MAGA on the walls to make it look like a hate crime so he could collect insurance money

Edwan Coughman (pictured), 31, is accused of staging a
hate crime by destroying two of his own restaurants 

• Edwan Coughman, 31, was arrested on September 12 for allegedly wrecking two of his businesses to stage a hate crime and receive insurance money
• Authorities responded to a burglary at Coughman's businesses in Gwinnett County, Georgia, on Wednesday around 9.30pm
• The inside of the restaurants had racial slurs written in fresh black spray paint and TVs were stolen
• Authorities found Coughman in an unlicensed car with suggestive evidence, including spray paint cans
• Coughman was charged with false report of a crime, insurance fraud and concealing a license plate

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.

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 Coughman.

Officers noticed several TVs both inside and in the bed of his truck that were still attached to brackets with damaged drywall.

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...

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