SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 7 (UPI) — San Francisco 49ers player Aldon Smith was arrested Thursday night in Santa Clara.
The Santa Clara Police Department reported the arrest Friday morning, saying the linebacker was taken into custody for a hit and run, DUI and vandalism. Smith was booked on a $26,000 bail.
The 25-year-old NFL player experienced several run-ins with the law in past years. Most recently, he carried out a nine-game suspension last season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
“There’s no DUI,” Smith told KTVU after being released from jail Friday morning. “The situation that happened could have been handled differently,” he said. “I apologize to everybody I did let down and I apologize for how it all played out.”
NFL.com says after the incident, Smith’s team can decide to cut him; 49ers owner Jed York is reportedly undecided on the issue.
In 2013, Smith was arrested after a car crash on suspicion of drunk driving and marijuana possession. Soon after, the player left rehab and turned himself in to authorities to face felony weapons charges. The player posted bail almost immediately after doing so but remained on “indefinite leave” from the NFL.
In 2012, Smith picked up another DUI and was released on a $1,000 bond.
