Authorities in Florida have arrested Cleveland Browns defensive end Lonnie Leroy Phelps for DUI after he crashed into a Key West restaurant on Wednesday evening.
The 23-year-old was charged with riving under the influence and causing damage to property or a person, a first degree misdemeanor charge under Florida law, punishable for up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine.
According to FOX8 Cleveland, Phelps and his female passenger, a 21-year-old woman, both appeared intoxicated, according to the report. Witnesses told police they saw them get out of the SUV after the crash and start arguing in the street.
According to the charge sheet, Phelps also refused to cooperate as he was unwilling to take a breathalyzer test. The damages to the restaurant are estimated at $300,000.
Phelps reportedly acknowledged the crash happened, but declined to tell officers how, instead saying, “he wants to pay for whatever damages he needs to pay for and be done with it,” the report reads.
Phelps signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent in May 2023, and he spent last season on their practice squad. Cleveland signed him to a reserve/future contract in January.
Phelps played college football at Miami (Ohio) from 2019 to ’21 and at Kansas in 2022. He recorded 23 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss in 41 games.
