After being arrested for driving under the influence in Florida, defensive end Lonnie Phelps is without a team as the Cleveland Browns released him.
According to NFL.com, the NFL team announced that they waived Phelps but made no mention of his arrest in their press release.
Phelps was charged with DUI and damaging property when he was detained and arrested on June 19. Police officials said he drove into an outdoor lounge area at Red Shoe Island Bistro in Key West. He refused to take a breath test and reportedly refused to cooperate with police officers on the scene.
NBC News reported that the 23-year-old football player was with his 21-year-old girlfriend when officers arrived on the scene.
In the police report, police said Phelps was slurring his words, and had a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his mouth, bloodshot eyes, and droopy eyelids.
Phelps appeared to be “very agitated,” the report states, and “kept throwing his hands in the air and rushing us to ‘do what we have to do.’”
The former Browns player was arrested and booked at the Monroe County Detention Center on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence and causing property damage.
Red Shoe Island posted a statement on its Facebook page letting patrons know that no one was hurt and “Thankfully, we were closed” when the accident took place.
“UPDATE: Thank you, Key West for a fast & fantastic opening!
“No one was hurt by the car that drove into our restaurant tonight. Thankfully, we were closed. It could’ve been really bad…Angels were looking out for us all.
“We will reopen as soon as possible. Thanks for your support and patience,” the post read.
The 23-year-old Phelps played his collegiate career at Miami (Ohio) before going to play at Kansas. The Cleveland Browns stated that he was an undrafted free agent when he joined the team in May 2023 and spent the season on the practice squad. He was then signed to a reserve/future contract in January 2024.
