Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson is charged with two counts of DWI, the Star Tribune reports.
The charges filed Wednesday stem from Simpson’s arrest early Saturday morning after the Dodge Charger he was driving broke down on I-394 in Minneapolis.
The Pioneer Press reported while Simpson was waiting for a tow truck, a Minneapolis squad stopped to check on him and drove off. Moments later, a Minnesota State Patrol officer pulled up to investigate the stalled car.
Simpson told the officer he had been at Pour House, a downtown bar, but denied having anything to drink, according to charges.
After smelling alcohol on Simpson, the trooper asked him to perform three field sobriety tests, all of which Simpson failed. A breathalyzer test indicated that Simpson had a blood-alcohol content of 0.095 percent, which is over the 0.08 percent legal limit to drive in Minnesota.
About a half an hour later, Simpson was asked to take a second breath test, but he refused. He was booked into Hennepin County jail and released later that afternoon.
The wide receiver faces fourth-degree DWI, a misdemeanor, and a gross misdemeanor count of third-degree DWI for refusing to submit to a chemical test.
His first appearance in Hennepin County court is scheduled for Dec. 11, according to the Star Tribune.
Simpson is currently on probation for a 2012 drug violation in Kentucky, which prohibits him from consuming alcohol. The Pioneer Press says that it’s possible Simpson could serve jail time for violating his probation.
As for punishment from the NFL, ProFootballTalk reports that first-time DWI offenders are usually fined the amount of two game checks.
Simpson offered an apology to his teammates and fans on Monday. He also said he still expects to play Sunday when the Vikings face the Seattle Seahawks.
