MLB

Ex-Mets pitcher Chasen Bradford arrested on DUI charge day after graduating from police academy

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Social Links for Nicholas McEntyre
Published March 27, 2024, 1:31 a.m. ET

A former Mets pitcher was arrested for an alleged drunk driving incident last week only 24 hours into being sworn in as a Nevada police officer.

Chasen Bradford, 34, who spent one year in Queens as a reliever, was still a probationary officer with the Henderson Police Department when he was charged with one count of driving while under the influence, a misdemeanor.

The department had just welcomed 14 newly graduated officers from the police academy on March 21 before Bradford was arrested the following day.

Former Mets pitcher Chase Bradford pitches in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 30, 2017, at Citizens Bank Park.
Former Mets pitcher Chasen Bradford, 34, was charged with one count of driving while under the influence.
Getty Images

“On the evening of March 22, 2024, one of those (graduating) officers chose to drink and drive resulting in their arrest by the Henderson Police Department,” a statement from Henderson Chief of Police Hollie Chadwick read.

Bradford was seen “swerving all over the road and hitting medians” and “driving up on a curve” during his late-night joyride, according to multiple reports citing an arrest report.

Police pulled over Bradford’s gray Ford pickup truck at around 10:23 p.m., where they conducted a series of field sobriety tests, according to KSNV.

The former pitcher told the other officers he only had two Coors Light beers but eventually confessed to drinking 5 or 6 beers throughout the day, according to the outlet.

Bradford allegedly told the officers his last drink was at 10:15 p.m.

Bradford was arrested and charged with a DUI on March 22, 2024, in Henderson, Nevada.
Bradford was seen “swerving all over the road and hitting medians” and “driving up on a curve” during his late-night joyride, according to multiple reports. Henderson Police Department

During the initial field sobriety tests, Bradford blew a .104 but took two more when he arrived at the Henderson Detention Center which showed a .094 and then a .098 on his second.

The legal BAC limit in Nevada is .08.

Bradford, whom the City of Henderson hired on Sept. 25, 2023, was fired less than a day after his arrest.

Bradford throws a pitch during an 8th-inning relief appearance against the Yankees on August 16, 2017.
During the initial field sobriety tests, Bradford blew a .104 but took two more when he arrived at the Henderson Detention Center, according to reports. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

“This probationary officer was promptly terminated and is no longer a member of the Henderson Police Department,” Chadwick added.

The Mets drafted the Las Vegas native in the 35th round of the 2011 amateur draft.

The University of Central Florida alum made his professional debut with the Mets in 2017, making 28 appearances while earning two wins with a 3.74 ERA.

The Las Vegas native was drafted by the Mets in the 35th round of the 2011 amateur draft out of the University of Central Florida before working his way through the organization.
Bradford during the 9th inning of a game against the Texas Rangers on August 9, 2017, at Citi Field. Paul J. Bereswill

The Seattle Mariners selected Bradford off of waivers in Jan. 2018, where he would play out his last two seasons — making 58 more appearances.

He ended his MLB career with a perfect 7-0 record, 1 save and a 3.89 ERA over 104.0 innings pitched.

Bradford officially retired from the MLB in July 2022 after spending his remaining time floating through the Mariners and Atlanta Braves organization.