The arrest has attracted national attention because of Goff’s connection to Drummond, the television personality, cookbook author and entrepreneur known to millions of viewers as “The Pioneer Woman.”
But according to court and police records cited by multiple outlets, what began as a suspicious-person call quickly became far more serious.
Police Find Goff Sleeping Near Campus Fountain
University police responded after receiving a report of a suspicious individual on campus.
An officer reportedly encountered Goff shirtless and asleep near a fountain.
After being awakened and questioned about why he was on campus, Goff allegedly told the officer that he was waiting for someone to sell him “ice,” a street term for methamphetamine, according to court documents cited in media reports.
Police initially allowed him to leave.
That changed after officers reportedly discovered that Goff had an outstanding warrant.
Authorities located him again and attempted to place him under arrest, but Goff allegedly ran.
According to court documents, the pursuit moved toward the area of the UAB Women and Infants Center and Children’s Hospital of Alabama.
When an officer attempted to intercept him, Goff allegedly struck the officer. One account in the court documents described the contact as an “open-handed palm strike.”
Other officers eventually restrained Goff and took him into custody.
Authorities reportedly recovered a backpack containing a glass pipe with burned residue as well as baggies containing suspected methamphetamine. Police said additional suspected methamphetamine was discovered during the booking process.
TMZ reported that police alleged Goff had approximately 1.8 grams of methamphetamine on him.
Earlier Arrest Involved Domestic Violence Allegations
The September incident isn’t Goff’s first encounter with law enforcement.
Police records obtained by People show that Goff was arrested in Cullman County, Alabama, on May 23, 2025, on second-degree assault and third-degree domestic violence charges.
In the assault case, Goff was accused of biting an officer’s hand and causing “substantial pain.” He later pleaded not guilty to that assault charge.
The domestic violence allegation involved a woman Goff was dating at the time.
According to the complaint, the woman accused Goff of grabbing her neck and shoving her to the ground.
She subsequently sought a protective order and alleged additional threatening and violent behavior.
A court granted the request and ordered Goff to remain at least 500 feet away from her.
Those remain allegations, and Goff is entitled to the presumption of innocence on unresolved criminal charges.
Drummond Welcomed Goff Into Her Family as a Teenager
Goff became part of the Drummond household years before the latest headlines.
Ree and her husband, Ladd Drummond, took Goff into their home in 2018 when he was a teenager. He had developed a relationship with the family through football and became especially close to them following an ATV accident that seriously injured his foot.
Drummond eventually discussed Goff publicly after initially keeping the arrangement private.
Writing about him in 2020, she explained why she had waited before introducing him to her enormous audience.
“I’m now writing about Jamar because after a year-and-a-half of living in our house, he is an inextricable part of our wacky family, and it’s become increasingly strange for me not to talk about him.”
Drummond and her husband also have four biological children: Alex, Paige, Bryce and Todd.
She continued publicly expressing affection for Goff as he grew older. In a 2023 birthday tribute, Drummond wrote:
“I can’t wait to watch his future unfold. I know it will be filled with good things. I love you, Jamar!!”
The circumstances surrounding Goff today appear considerably different from those hopeful words.
TMZ reported that one court document described Goff as homeless. Drummond has not publicly addressed the latest allegations, and media outlets have reported reaching out to her representatives for comment.
For a family whose public image has long centered on life at the ranch, cooking and family relationships, Goff’s latest arrest marks a troubling chapter—and the allegations surrounding the 23-year-old now extend well beyond a single encounter with police.
