Cleveland Browns defensive end Ronnie Phelps was arrested Wednesday night after allegedly crashing his car into a Key West restaurant while intoxicated and failing to cooperate with police. According to TMZ:.
He was charged with DUI and property damage, with the accident causing $3,000 worth of damage, according to the report. According to ESPN:.
of The Key West Police Department posted photos of the accident. The company shared a photo on its Facebook page of cars making the opening shortly after Red Shoe Island Bistro opened.
“A 23-year-old man was arrested for drink driving after crashing his car into a restaurant on Petronia Street on Wednesday night,” a news report said Thursday morning. “The building and vehicle sustained significant damage, but no one was injured.”
The Browns released a short statement to TMZ.
“We are aware of the incident and are gathering more information but will have no further comment at this time,” the Browns said in a statement.
According to a police report, the accident happened around 8:47pm ET on Wednesday, and TMZ reports that officers found a black Hyundai “wedged” into the side of the restaurant.
Police attempted to interview Phelps and his girlfriend, who were reportedly in the car at the time of the crash, but they reportedly did not cooperate.
TMZ reported that police said Phelps showed signs of intoxication, continued talking inside the office and “failed to comply with commands.”
According to TMZ, the Kansas/Miami, Ohio native agreed to take a breathalyzer test but then became “aggressive” and took issue with how the test was administered.
Officers then detained him and placed him in a vehicle, where he reportedly complained frequently.
According to TMZ, the report states that “Phelps told me how craving he was,” and “that women are the worst and he didn’t know what I was going to do to him, he begged me not to kill him, he asked how long it would take to get bail and how long he’d been a detective and told me I was Russian.”
Video posted by TMZ shows Phelps being asked if he knows her name and where she is.
“Our question or your question?” Phelps responded. “Which one would you like me to answer? But I don’t know you…”
He then raised his voice.
“I know what’s going on. I just got in line for you guys,” Phelps said. “What? What are you talking about? Seriously. I’m the first. I just got in line for you guys, (unspoken words).”
He then asks for water, saying he is “dying of thirst”, adding: “Please don’t kill me”.
Phelps reportedly continued to be abusive at the police station, refused to take a breathalyzer and urinated on himself while sitting in a chair.
He is due to appear in court next month.
Phelps went undrafted in 2023 and then signed with the Browns but never appeared in a game as he was on the practice squad.
Cleveland with him Reserves/Futures Contracts In January.
