UFC veteran Luis Pena was arrested on Friday by Florida police and charged with robbery by sudden snatching, battery and criminal mischief, according to online jail records.
Pena, 27, was picked up by the Coral Springs Police Department on an extradition warrant issued by a police department in another county in Florida. The name of the department and details on the charges weren’t immediately available, but a police spokesperson said the Ultimate Fighter 27 alum was picked up on an anonymous tip.
“It was actually called in by another police department for us to go and get him, and then we had an independent person tell us where he was, and they took him into custody under that warrant,” Christian Swinson, a public information officer for the Coral Springs police, told MMA Fighting.
Two of the charges – robbery and battery – are designated as pending trial. Swinson said Pena could have missed an arraignment hearing on the charges, or the charges could have been added in the course of investigation after an initial charge, triggering the warrant that led to his arrest.
“Probably whoever called it in anonymously is involved in that case and wanted him to go to jail,” Swinson said.
Pena’s management firm, First Round Management, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Wednesday, Pena posted a message on Twitter about his struggles with mental health. He wrote he’d “finally gained the strength to get and accept the help I’ve needed for a long time.”
People aren't comfortable talking about this, but I have been going through serious mental health issues my entire life and have finally gained the strength to get and accept the help I've needed for a long time. If you're struggling take it from me its okay to reach out
— Luis Antonio Pena (@violentbobross) June 16, 2021
Robbery by sudden snatching is classified as a third-degree felony in Florida and is punishable by up to five years and $5,000 in fines. Those penalties can be increased if the offender was using a deadly weapon.
Pena was most recently seen in the octagon in April at UFC Vegas 24, where he earned a split-decision win over Alexander Munoz. That put him back in the win column after a submission loss to Khama Worthy that was accompanied by a four-plus month suspension and fine for a positive marijuana test.
Initially competing as a featherweight, the 6-3 Pena moved up to lightweight in 2019 and has notched a 3-2 record in the UFC. He was forced to withdraw from TUF 27 after suffering a fractured foot.