Police pepper spray, arrest Cedric Benson

[Diabeetus]

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson failed a sobriety test while operating a 30-foot boat, then resisted arrest before being hit with pepper spray and dragged ashore by officers.

Benson faces charges of boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest after the incident Saturday night on Lake Travis, Travis County Sheriff's Department spokesman Roger Wade said.

Benson was released from jail early Sunday on a $14,500 bond. A call to Benson's agent was not immediately returned.

Benson was operating the boat with 15 passengers aboard when he was stopped by a Lower Colorado River Authority officer for a random safety inspection. He failed a field sobriety test on the officer's boat and was uncooperative when the officer tried to take him ashore, the authority said.

"When Benson did not pass the test, he presented himself as a threat to the officer and argued about whether or not he would be taken to land to have a follow-up field sobriety test performed on land and refused to put on a life jacket," the authority said in a statement.

The officer had to use pepper spray to subdue Benson. He then refused to leave the officer's boat and authorities had to drag him to a car to be taken to the Travis County jail, the authority said.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/05/04/benson.bears.ap/index.html

 

[Oz]

Bears fans must be awfually glad the team traded away Thomas Jones a year ago.

 

[Claws for Concern]

I remember him tearing up on NFL draft day, too.

 

[JakeandElwood]

An absolute bust in every sense.

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

Does this make him a prime Vikings' free agent target for the rest of the offseason?

 

[Claws for Concern]

Does this make him a prime Vikings' free agent target for the rest of the offseason?

Bite your tongue.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

With the standard Goodell's set, how can Benson NOT be suspended?

 

[Tom Petty]

benson is one of the nicest, most respectful athletes i've ever met.

 

[DemoChristian]

We can call him a bust, but is anyone surprised? Who expected much from him coming out of college?
In fact, don't most Texas players underperform?

 

[Billy Pritchard]

Does this make him a prime Vikings' free agent target for the rest of the offseason?

Yes, because I'm sure they are in the market for a running back. The guys they have just aren't cutting it.

 

[Tom Petty]

We can call him a bust, but is anyone surprised? Who expected much from him coming out of college?
In fact, don't most Texas players underperform?

i'd be one happy sumbitch to have roy williams in oakland.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Was he charged with impersonating a runningback?

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Doesn't he usually go down easier than that?

 

[pallister]

Bears fans must be awfually glad the team traded away Thomas Jones a year ago.

That's an ignorant comment. As bad as Benson's been — and I hope he gets suspended as a prelude to being cut — the Bears got Thomas' Jones' two best years and got rid of him at the right time. He sucked in NY last season and would have sucked in Chicago, too, especially behind one of the worst O-lines in football.

Matt Forte, come on down! You're the Bears' new starting running back after three days of mini-camp.

Hope the kid's up for it.

BTW, great line, FH.

 

[melock]

Benson's spin on the events.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3380764

 

[alleyallen]

Lake Travis is one popular location. I'd be interested to see if there were other witnesses available who can either support or refute Benson's side of the story.

 

[melock]

Lake Travis is one popular location. I'd be interested to see if there were other witnesses available who can either support or refute Benson's side of the story.

You'd think there would be. And what about the "15" people on his boat? The police better hope what Benson's saying isn't true.

 

[Boom_70]

It appears that he was water boarded. They must have thought that Benson was a terriorist>

"Once we got to land, the Travis County police grabbed me and kicked my feet from under me. So I landed on my back while I was handcuffed. They held me down and held the water hose over my face. I couldn't breathe, I'm choking, I'm begging the cops, 'Please stop. Please stop.' Then they picked me up and dragged me backward toward their car. And I'm still being polite, asking them, 'Sir, could you please allow me to walk like a man to your cop car?' They just kept dragging me on."

 

[Armchair_QB]

I wouldn't be surprised if Benson's story is closer to the truth than the officer's is.

 

[Pancamo]

Bears fans must be awfually glad the team traded away Thomas Jones a year ago.

That's an ignorant comment. As bad as Benson's been — and I hope he gets suspended as a prelude to being cut — the Bears got Thomas' Jones' two best years and got rid of him at the right time. He sucked in NY last season and would have sucked in Chicago, too, especially behind one of the worst O-lines in football.

Matt Forte, come on down! You're the Bears' new starting running back after three days of mini-camp.

Hope the kid's up for it.

BTW, great line, FH.

The OL for the Jets sucked last year.