Marshawn Lynch, the former Seattle Seahawks retreat, challenged the police report of his arrest on suspicion of drink-driving in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning. Through his lawyers, Lynch denied driving under the influence.
Lynch faces a felony DUI and three other charges after police said they found him asleep in a parked car. Police said in their report that Lynch, 36, was asleep at the wheel of a car around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday on a street north of the Las Vegas Strip near the Stratosphere hotel-casino.
They said the vehicle, a black sports car, was disabled, noticeably dented and missing the rim and tire on the driver’s side front wheel. The wheels on the driver’s side rear and the rim and tire on the front passenger side were almost loose, according to the report.
On Thursday, police released bodycam footage of the arresting officers that appeared to show the interaction. It ended with a cop dragging Lynch out of the car by the arm before the police handcuffed him.
Responding officers did not see Lynch driving the vehicle.
A Las Vegas police officer wrote in the arrest report that he identified Lynch in the driver’s seat and that Lynch frequently fell asleep during his interrogation. The report described Lynch’s eyes as bloodshot and watery and said the officer smelled alcohol on his breath and in the vehicle. Lynch, who was wearing only one shoe, told police he had stolen the vehicle but said he hadn’t been drinking or taking drugs, the report said.
Lynch was arrested around 8 a.m. after refusing to cooperate with police efforts to conduct sobriety tests in the field, according to the report. Police said Lynch did not require medical attention.
In a statement, Lynch’s attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld dispute the allegations.
“Marshawn has not been arrested for a DUI,” the lawyers said. “The vehicle had previously been safely parked and not in use. We are confident that when all the evidence is presented it will not be a DUI under Nevada law. Marshawn appreciates and is grateful for everyone’s concern and support.”
Lynch was charged with a felony of drink-driving, as well as failing to produce a safety record, driving an unregistered vehicle and failing to drive in a lane, according to Las Vegas Municipal Court records. He was released after paying $3,381 bail.
Lynch was selected in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft and amassed 85 rushing touchdowns and more than 10,000 rushing yards in 12 seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Seahawks and Oakland Raiders. He is most remembered for his six-season 2010-15 tenure in Seattle, where he won a Super Bowl, earned four Pro Bowl selections and earned his nickname, Beast Mode, in a highlight game against the New Orleans Saints during the 2010 NFC wild-card playoff round.
He last played football in 2019, and the NFL Players Association named Lynch its first Chief Ambassador last October, giving current players an insight into how to manage their money and marketing.
Lynch’s court date is set for December 7, according to online data.
