Bears RB Benson disputes charges
editor1 |May 05,2008
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CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson is
disputing his charges for boating while intoxicated and
resisting arrest.
Benson was arrested late Saturday night near Austin, Texas by
Lower Colorado River Authority police during a random safety
inspection.
According to the police report, Benson failed a "float test" -
an abbreviated version of a field sobriety test - and became
combative with officers, who then arrested him and
pepper-sprayed the fourth-year running back.
However, Benson told the Chicago Tribune on Monday that he was
not drunk, did not resist and will fight both charges that are
Class B misdemeanors.
"There was no resistance on my part," said Benson, the fourth
overall pick in the 2005 draft who played at the University of
Texas. "Was I drunk? No."
Benson spent the night in jail and was released Sunday morning
after posting bond of $14,500 - $10,000 for the BWI charge and
$4,500 for the resisting arrest - said spokesman Roger Wade of
the Travis County Sheriff's Office.
Benson accused the arresting officer of abuse, saying he had
already taken every test without incident.
According to the arrest report by the LCRA, Benson was operating
a 30-foot boat with about 12-15 passengers aboard on Lake
Travis when an officer made contact with him shortly after 9
p.m.
Police say that after Benson failed the initial sobriety test,
he argued with an officer about being taken to land to have a
follow-up field sobriety test.
"I politely asked him why we needed to go to land to take more
tests when I took every test," Benson said. "Then he sprayed me
with mace, on his boat.
"I'm not handcuffed. I'm not under arrest. I'm not threatening
him. I'm not pushing him. I'm not touching him. And he
sprays me right in the eye."
However, the police report indicates that Benson also refused to
put on a life jacket, at which time one of the officers decided
to place him under arrest.
"Benson ... continued to present himself as a threat to the
officer, argue with him and refuse to do as the officer
requested, which resulted in the officer using pepper spray on
Benson," the LRCA statement read.
The charges are punishable by up to six months in jail and
$2,000 each.
The arrest could jeopardize Benson's future with the Bears. He
has been a disappointment in his brief career, failing to reach
1,000 yards rushing in his first three seasons in Chicago.
Benson's 2007 season was cut short by a broken leg, an injury
which sidelined him for the final five games.
Benson averaged a career low of 3.4 yards per carry last year,
finishing the season with 674 yards and four touchdowns on 196
carries.
While at Texas, Benson was arrested twice - on a misdemeanor
trespassing charge in 2003 for entering an apartment to retrieve
a television that he reported stolen, and on misdemeanor drug
and alcohol charges in 2002 that eventually were dropped.
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