Former NFL running back Adrian Peterson faces charges for driving while intoxicated (DWI) and illegal firearm possession after officers found him unconscious in his idling SUV at a Houston-area gas station, police records show.
What Happened at the Gas Station
Sugar Land police discovered Peterson around 9 a.m. Sunday, slumped over in his vehicle while it sat running next to a fuel pump. Officers immediately noticed telltale signs of intoxication: the smell of alcohol lingered in the air, Peterson’s eyes appeared bloodshot, and his words came out in slurred speech when they woke him.
Peterson told officers he’d spent the night at a poker game somewhere in Houston but couldn’t pinpoint exactly where he was when police approached. He’d been trying to make it home to Missouri City, he explained, after downing what he described as two to three shots of a vodka mixture during the evening.
The field sobriety test didn’t go well for the former MVP. Peterson struggled to keep his footing, swaying and using his arms to catch himself from falling over. Things got worse when officers searched his SUV and found a Glock pistol tucked away in the glove box.
A Pattern of Legal Troubles
This latest incident represents Peterson’s second DWI arrest in just seven months. Back in the spring, Minneapolis police arrested him on similar charges after he’d been celebrating at an NFL draft party with Minnesota Vikings fans.
The 40-year-old Peterson built his reputation on Texas high school fields before dominating at the University of Oklahoma. The Minnesota Vikings selected him with the seventh pick in 2007, kicking off what would become a Hall of Fame-caliber career. Across 15 NFL seasons, he racked up 14,918 rushing yards and 120 touchdowns, capped by his legendary 2,097-yard MVP season in 2012 that placed him among just nine running backs to ever crack the 2,000-yard barrier. His journey eventually took him through six different franchises before hanging up his cleats.
Where Things Stand Now
Peterson walked out of Fort Bend County Jail on Monday after putting up $3,000 in bond money. Court filings don’t show whether he’s hired an attorney yet to handle these latest charges.
