Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen was arrested early Sunday morning in Indianapolis on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Allen, 34, is a six-time Pro Bowl selection who signed with Indianapolis in mid-August. He played in their preseason game Saturday at home against the Lions.
He faces potential discipline by the NFL under its substances of abuse policy.
“We are aware of the incident involving Keenan Allen last night,” the Colts said Sunday in a written statement provided to Front Office Sports. “We are in the process of gathering more information and have no further comment at this time.”
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers conducted a traffic investigation shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday in the 100 block of South Meridian Street after observing a vehicle park in a no-parking zone. Officers spoke to the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Allen, and “noticed signs of intoxication,” police said.
Allen was arrested following “further investigation,” according to police, on preliminary misdemeanor charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OVWI) with ACE of .08 or higher and OVWI endangering a person.
The final charging decision will be made by the Marion County (Ind.) Prosecutor’s Office.
Allen could not be reached to comment. His agent did not immediately respond to a request by FOS for comment.
He could be fined or suspended by the NFL. The substances of abuse policy says that absent “aggravating circumstances,” discipline for a first offense of a violation of the law involving alcohol will be a three-game suspension without pay. Aggravating circumstances could lead to a longer suspension, the policy says, and subsequent violations without aggravating circumstances result in an eight-game suspension without pay.
The NFL generally waits for a player’s legal case to conclude before imposing disciplinary measures.
The Colts announced Aug. 19 that they’d signed Allen. His one-year deal with the team reportedly is worth as much as $8.32 million. He had one catch for 24 yards in Saturday’s 25-16 preseason loss to the Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium.
He is entering his 14th NFL season after a dozen seasons with the Chargers and one season with the Bears. He has 1,055 career catches for 12,051 yards and 70 touchdowns. Allen is one of 18 players in NFL history with at least 1,000 career catches, 12,000 receiving yards, and 70 touchdown catches.
