According to the Pioneer Press, Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson could face prison time after being arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Minneapolis last weekend.
Citing “a person with direct knowledge, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case,” the Pioneer Press reports that Simpson’s car broke down while traveling westbound on Interstate 394 at 5:39 on Saturday morning. Here’s how the story unfolds, according to the newspaper:
“The person with direct knowledge said Simpson’s car broke down on westbound Interstate 394 heading out of downtown Minneapolis. The wide receiver called Bobby and Steve’s Auto World near the Metrodome for towing service.
Minneapolis police initially pulled up to check on Simpson, whose car was parked on the shoulder. Simpson told officers he was waiting for a tow truck, and Minneapolis police drove off, the person said. Moments later, a State Patrol officer responding to a stalled car blocking traffic pulled over to investigate.”
The Pioneer Press goes on to say Simpson failed a field-sobriety test and registered a blood-alcohol content of .09. The legal limit in Minnesota is .08. Simpson faces a charge of misdemeanor fourth-degree DWI.
However, while the Pioneer Press story says Simpson registered the .09 blood-alcohol content via a breath test, a Hennepin County Jail spokesperson told KARE 11 on Saturday that Simpson refused a breathalyzer test. Other reports have noted that Simpson was released from jail about seven hours after the arrest, a relatively expedient exit in most cases of such nature.
Regardless, terms of Simpson’s probation from a 2012 drug arrest barred him from consuming alcohol. Last year, Simpson served 15 days in jail and was assigned three years probation after admitting to receiving two pounds of marijuana to his home in Kentucky, according to ESPN. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals at the time.
If it’s determined that he violated his probation, Simpson could face three years in prison, per the report.
As for punishment from the NFL, ProFootballTalk reports that first-offense DUI offenders are usually fined the amount of two game checks.
Simpson offered an apology to his teammates and fans on Monday. He expects to play Sunday when the Vikings face the Seattle Seahawks.
