Lonnie Phelps, a Cleveland Browns defensive end, was arrested Wednesday night after allegedly driving inebriated into a Key West restaurant and refusing to cooperate with police, according to TMZ. According to the report, he was cited for DUI and property damage, and the accident cost $3,000, according to ESPN. The Key West Police Department shared a snapshot of the incident on its Facebook page, showing a car creating an entrance directly outside the Red Shoe Island Bistro.
Browns’ Lonnie Phelps was arrested:
Lonnie Phelps, a Cleveland Browns defensive end, was accused of drunk driving Wednesday night after police reported he smashed his SUV into a Florida restaurant. Phelps is also facing charges for property damage due to the incident at Key West’s Red Shoe Island Bistro. The Browns waived Phelps on Thursday afternoon.
Phelps, 23, was arrested after refusing to comply with police, according to a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office report obtained by Cleveland.com. TMZ Sports shared photos from the site, showing a vehicle stuck against the side of the eatery. According to reports, the losses totaled $300,000. Phelps signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent in May 2023 after spending last season on their practice squad. Cleveland signed him on a reserve/future deal in January. Phelps attended collegiate football at Miami (Ohio) from 2019 to 2021 and Kansas in 2022. He had 23 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss in 41 games.