49er Bryant charged with reckless driving, DUI, resisting arrest

By Ari Burack, Bay City News Service

November 21, 2006

SAN MATEO (BCN) - San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Antonio Bryant was arrested Sunday night on charges of reckless driving, driving under the influence and resisting arrest after San Mateo police officers pulled him over for allegedly speeding on U.S. Highway 101, San Mateo police Capt. Kevin Raffaelli said today.

According to police, shortly before midnight Sunday a San Mateo police officer entering northbound U.S. Highway 101 near Whipple Avenue in Redwood City saw a 2005 Lamborghini speed past him "at well over 100 miles per hour,'' Raffaelli said.

The officer tried to catch up to the Lamborghini but could not and radioed ahead, Raffaelli said.

Bryant yielded to other San Mateo police officers further ahead and pulled over near the Kehoe off-ramp from U.S. Highway 101 in San Mateo, according to Raffaelli.

When an officer noticed Bryant displayed "signs consistent with the use of alcoholic beverages,'' he asked Bryant to step away from the car, but Bryant refused and became "extremely verbally abusive towards the officers,'' Raffaelli said.

Officers then placed Bryant under arrest for reckless driving, and as they removed him from his car, he became combative and had to be restrained, according to Raffaelli.

Bryant was eventually taken to the county jail in Redwood City, where he continued to refuse to cooperate with officers, Raffaelli said. He was booked on reckless driving, driving under the influence and resisting arrest charges.

According to the San Francisco 49ers media office, a statement on the arrest was not immediately available.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

####