Ravens' Sergio Kindle Arrested for Drunk Driving
Sergio Kindle, rookie linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol over the Christmas weekend.
Police in Howard County, Maryland pulled the 23 year old over at 4:09 AM on Sunday after patrolling officers suspected him of drunk driving. The car that he was driving veered off of the road, was speeding and was driving to close to another vehicle.
Court documents cited that Kindle’s blood alcohol content was .17, which is twice the legal limit in Maryland. He failed all of the sobriety tests administered to him.
“Kindle had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, his eyes were bloodshot/glassy, his speech was slurred and he admitted to having ‘a few drinks’ at a club in Washington, D.C.,” wrote Howard County Officer Stuart A. Hammond in the report.
“I just want to apologize to the organization because I don’t want to bring a negative light to the team,” Kindle told
a local newspaper. “It was my mistake. I can’t take it back now.”
Sergio Valent’e Kindle played football at The University of Texas in Austin, Texas. He was the first player in history to be the finalist for both the Ted Hendricks and Butkus Awards. He was also on the watchlist for the Nagurski Trophy. Throughout the regular
season, Kindle had 47 tackles, 3 sacks, 17 tackles for a loss, and rushed the quarterback 31 times.
He was also named first team All American by USA Today and in PARADE, while also playing in the 2006 U.S. Army All American Bowl. Kindle was ranked at number one in terms of linebacker in the class of 2006, and the best linebacker from the Dallas, Texas
area since Jessie Armstead.
He was deemed as a first round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft by analysts, but teams were afraid of Kindle’s tendency to injure his knee, as well as off field incidents. He was then picked up by Baltimore in the second round of the draft, pick number
43.
This is not the first time that Kindle has had an issue with driving under the influence. In the summer of 2007, Kindle and another teammate were arrested in separate instances of drunk driving. They were suspended for the first three games of the season
and also had to do community service. They also missed the first two team practices because they were visiting a woman whose son was hit by a drunk driver, crippling him.
Kindle was signed for one year to Baltimore, with no guarantee. He was on the Reserve list. There is no word yet as to whether or not the NFL will fine or suspend him under their personal conduct policy.
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