Cleveland Browns defensive end Lonnie Phelps was arrested Wednesday night after allegedly crashing his car while drunk into a Key West restaurant and failing to cooperate with police, according to TMZ.
He was cited for DUI and property damage, per the report, and the accident caused $3,000 worth of damage, according to ESPN.
The Key West Police Department posted a photo of the crash on its Facebook page, showing a car creating an opening right outside the opening of Red Shoe Island Bistro.
“A 23-year old was arrested for DUI after crashing his vehicle into a Petronia Street restaurant Wednesday night,” the accounted posted Thursday morning. “The building and the vehicle were significantly damaged, but there were no injuries.”
The Browns announced Thursday afternoon that they waived Phelps.
The police report states the accident happened around 8:47 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with cops finding a Black Hyundai “wedged into the side” of the restaurant, per TMZ.
When police attempted to interview Phelps and his girlfriend, who was identified as being in the car at the time of the accident, they allegedly did not help.
TMZ reported the police said Phelps kept talking offer the offices and “disobeyed orders,” while showing signs of being intoxicated.
The Kansas/Miami (Ohio) product agreed to participate in sobriety tests, but then became “combative” after raising issues with how the tests were performed, per TMZ.
The cops then placed him in custody and put him in their car, where he reportedly complained often.
“Phelps talked about how thirsty he was,” the report stated, according to TMZ, “how he did not know what I was going to do to him because females are the worst, asked me not to kill him, asked me how long it takes to bail out, how long I was the detective and informed me I was Russian.”
A video posted by TMZ showed Phelps being asked his name and if he knew where he is.
“Our questions or your questions?” Phelps responded. “Which ones you want me to answer. But I don’t know you bro…”
He later raised his voice.
“I know what the f–k — I just walked in a whole line for ya’ll,” Phelps said. “What? What are you talking about, bro? Be for real. My first time — I done walked through the whole line for ya’ll, (slur).”
He later asked for water, saying he was going to “die from thirst” and adding “please don’t kill me.”
Phelps reportedly still acted up at the police station, refusing to take a breathalyzer and urinating on himself while in a chair.
He is due in court next month.
Phelps went undrafted in 2023 before signing with the Browns, although he failed to appear in a game while serving on the practice squad.
Cleveland inked him to a reserve/future contract in January.
