altimore Ravens Sergio Kindle Arrested; NFL Career Likely over in Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens are filled with excitement after clinching a playoff birth today, while Sergio Kindle continues his awful rookie season after being arrested today on a DUI.

Kindle, a former standout at the University of Texas, was drafted in the second round by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Injuries and questions about his character made him a second-round talent. The Ravens had intentions of making him a good pass rusher not only in the future but in his rookie season as well.

However, everything has gone wrong in his first year as an NFL player. Kindle suffered a fractured skull after falling down multiple flights of stairs in his own home.

The Ravens placed Kindle on injured reserve in August and hoped he would return healthy for 2011.

It's tough for me to see Kindle in a Ravens uniform next season. This is the second off-the-field issue Kindle has dealt with in the past six months.

What is even more devestating about this is this act took place during the middle of the night, with Kindle also driving over the speed limit.

General manager Ozzie Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh believed Kindle would be more responsible for his actions after his troubles early on.

With the crime Kindle committed today, I can't see a disciplinarian like Harbaugh allowing him to come back or even gain any playing time.

Since Kindle's first mixup over the summer, people questioned whether or not he would be a draft bust. In the end, it seems Kindle won't have a chance to live up to his potential due to inexcusable actions off-the-field.

Redskin rookie arrested for DUI hours after first NFL game

LEESBURG, Va. | Washington Redskins defensive lineman Joe Joseph was arrested on charges of driving under the influence early Monday morning, less than 24 hours after making his NFL debut.

Vincent DiBenedetto, a spokesman with the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, said Joe Louis Joseph Jr. was booked around 3 a.m. Monday after deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident shortly after midnight.

Hours earlier, Joseph and the Redskins had returned from Jacksonville following a 20-17 overtime win. Joseph played as a reserve in his first game as an active member of an NFL roster.

Joseph, 25, joined the Redskins' practice squad Dec. 15 and was promoted to the main roster on Saturday. He spent training camp with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted rookie from the University of Miami and was a member of the New York Giants practice squad earlier this season.

He was later released on his own recognizance. Authorities did not know if he had an attorney.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said he was still learning the details of the incident and would make a statement after he has spoken with Joseph.

Denver Bronco Kevin Alexander arrested, cut from team

Aurora Police say they were called to Kevin Alexander's apartment in Aurora just before 10 a.m. Monday morning. Police say Alexander's girlfriend called 911. According to investigators, the incident in question happened Sunday night.

According to the arrest report, Alexander's girlfriend told police she and Alexander got into an argument Sunday night when he got home. 9NEWS is choosing not to release the victim's name because she is a victim of domestic violence.

The woman told the officer the argument was over Alexander cheating on her. The arrest report states the woman told police Alexander has been cheating on her with one of her friends for some time.

The woman told police the 23-year-old "became very mad and eventually grabbed her several times."

According to the police report Alexander grabbed the victim by both arms and threw her to the ground.

"He then grabbed her around the throat and pushed her against the wall," the arrest report states. "She states she was either punched or slapped in the right side of her face."

The woman also told police she was upset about the incident but didn't want to do anything that would "jeopardize his career."

"She feels they will immediately cut him," the arrest report states.

According to police documents, at one point the woman grabbed a steak knife to keep Alexander away.

The woman also told police Alexander punched her once before.

Alexander was booked into the Aurora Detention Center and posted a $2,000 bond. He was released from jail at 2 p.m. Monday afternoon.

The Broncos announced Monday afternoon that Alexander had been cut from the team. Alexander played in eight games and had four tackles in his rookie season.

9NEWS has contacted Alexander for comment but has been unsuccessful in reaching him.

His next court date is Tuesday.

Former boxing world champ Floyd Mayweather charged with poking security guard in the eye

Boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr has been charged with jabbing a finger in the face of a security guard after he placed two parking tickets on his vehicles.

The 33-year-old star allegedly attacked worker Shayne Smith outside his luxury home in Las Vegas last month.

Nine-times world champion Mayweather is accused of battery after poking the private security officer, according to U.S. reports.

Paperwork says he screamed at Smith that he had 'no f***ing business' touching his cars, celebrity website TMZ.com said.

Mayweather reportedly tore one of the tickets off his car and put it on the 21-year-old homeowner association guard's vehicle.

The paperwork says: 'While lambasting Smith, Mayweather was allegedly jabbing his finger into the left side of Smith's cheek just below his eye.

'This willful and unlawful use of force and violence upon Smith caused redness and discoloration to the area which was battered by Mayweather.'

The worker says in the documents he drove off following the incident on November 15 to 'de-esculate' the situation.

He then told his manager what had happened and took photos of the injury he had suffered.

When police officers arrived Mayweather allegedly refused to come out of his home to speak to them.

The boxer, who lives in South Highlands, Las Vegas, Nevada, has not yet commented on the charges.

Ex-NBA, MSU star Jay Vincent charged in jobs scam

Ex-NBA player and Michigan State star Jay Vincent has been indicted for an Internet employment scam that bilked about 20,000 jobseekers out of about $2 million, the U.S. Attorney’s office said Thursday.

The 51-year-old Vincent and 53-year-old Anthony Portee face charges of mail fraud, and Vincent is charged with an income tax violation, authorities said.

Both men live in Lansing.

Vincent earned an NCAA championship at Michigan State in 1979 on a team that included Magic Johnson. He played for the Spartans until 1981.

Dallas drafted him with the first pick of the second round in 1981. He averaged 21.4 points per game his rookie season and spent five seasons with the Mavericks.

He later played for Washington, Denver, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers, ending his NBA career with Philadelphia in 1990.

Vincent is “a legitimate businessman” and is cooperating with investigators, his lawyer, Charles Ford, told The Associated Press.

“A person is innocent until proven guilty,” said Ford, a longtime friend of Vincent. “This man is iconic in this area. This is a person who has given a lot to the community.”

A number listed for Portee was disconnected. His lawyer, Raymond Buffmyer, did not immediately return a message.

The charges cover a period from Jan. 1, 2006 to Aug. 25, 2009 and involves the defendants’ business Foreclosure Bank Inspection Co.

Vincent and Portee concocted a scheme to defraud people seeking work through their Foreclosure Bank Inspection Co., according to the indictment.

The company claimed to test, certify and employ people to inspect bank foreclosed homes, and advertised that the company had contracts and received large checks from major banks to do the work. In reality, the copies of contracts and checks used in the ads were altered or counterfeit, the indictment said.

The company also did not hire contractors to perform inspections. What it did do was charge $149 to provide liability insurance for each job applicant and $89 for background checks, according to the indictment.

False insurance policies were prepared in the company’s offices and no background checks were made, the indictment said. Tests, completed and returned by applicants, were stored in boxes without reviews.

In the income tax charge, Vincent is accused of reporting a business income of $62,438 on his 2008 tax return. Authorities said the actual amount he earned was $330,269.

Former NFL Player Mark Fields Arrested For Allegedly Assaulting Ex-Girlfriend

Former NFL player Mark Fields was arrested on Monday for reportedly beating his ex-girlfriend following a dispute over their daughter. According to abc15.com, Fields was in Goodyear, AZ outside his daughter’s childcare center, Tutor Time, when witnesses say he began beating a woman and putting her in a chokehold. The alleged victim was his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his daughter who was at the Tutor Time to drop off court ordered documents. The two had reportedly been fighting over custody when the argument broke out.

According to the report, police records show Fields reportedly threw his ex-girlfriend to the ground and threatened to kill her and say she had blood on her left arm along with bruises and visible scratches. Fields has been charged with felony counts of aggravated assault and interference with education as well as misdemeanor counts of endangerment and disorderly conduct.

The former linebacker played for the New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams and the Carolina Panthers.

Ex-Spur hauled back to jail

For the third time this year, Bexar County authorities have arrested former NBA All-Star Alvin Robertson.

Robertson, 48, a San Antonio resident who played with the Spurs from 1984 to 1989, was arrested Friday night. He has been awaiting trial since February on a first-degree felony sex trafficking of a minor charge.

Earlier Friday, state District Judge Juanita Vasquez-Gardner ordered that his bail be increased from $150,000 to $200,000 after a Bexar County Pretrial Services bond officer raised allegations that he met with a co-defendant and has ignored a no-contact order regarding an alleged adult victim.

The alleged victim “stated he calls her to come to his house to bring him beer, which she admits to doing,” bond officer Rose De Los Santos wrote in a letter to the court. Robertson “has also mentioned that he has contact with the (woman), but that the calls and visits are initiated by (her).

“She stated she no longer wants to proceed prosecuting the defendant because of their personal history together; she just doesn’t approve of his activities with the child victim in his charges.”

If Robertson is released from jail on the increased bail, he will be restricted to full house arrest, the judge decided. He already wears an ankle monitor.

Defense attorney Jimmy Parks Jr. said Friday that he was surprised by the order. He hadn’t been aware of the allegations, he said, adding that they must be the result of a misunderstanding.

“We’re going to do everything we can to get it worked out,” he said. “It just surprises me because he’s been working so well, trying to be a productive member of society.”

Authorities have alleged, among other things, that Robertson was one of seven people who forced a 14-year-old into prostitution in Corpus Christi and San Antonio last year. He was arrested on the charge in February while in Bentonville, Ark., for a basketball clinic.

He was rearrested so his bail could be increased less than a month later, after prosecutors said two women complained he was threatening them, one of whom said he was blaming her for his legal problems.

Former NC State, NBA Player Arrested In Drug Sting

two-week undercover operation has netted Lenoir County lawmen with the arrest of former NC State and NBA basketball player who they say sold them prescription drugs.

Charles Shackleford of Kinston was arrested after selling approximately 150 Lortab pills to undercover Kinston police and Lenoir County deputies. Officers say they purchased the prescription pain killers in the vicinity of Fairgrounds Road and Highway 11-55.

The 44-year-old Shackleford was jailed on a $30,000 bond and has a first appearance Friday in Lenoir County district court.

Shackleford played collegiate basketball at North Carolina State University for 3 seasons (1985/86-1987/88). He was selected by the New Jersey Nets in the 2nd round (32nd overall pick) of the 1988 NBA Draft. He played in six NBA seasons as a forward-center for the Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets.

Shackleford's best year as a pro came during the 1989-1990 NBA season when he averaged 8.2 points per game in 70 games for the Nets. His best NBA game was a career high 26 Rebounds to go with a career high 23 Points at Milwaukee on 20 Feb 1990.

Ex-Tiger Dmitri Young arrested on drug charges

Former Tiger Dmitri Young was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana Monday in Illinois.

Young, 36, was released after posting $100 bond after being arrested at the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington.

Young, who retired as a major leaguer in March, is vice president and senior adviser of baseball operations and special hitting and fielding instructor for the Oakland County Cruisers minor league team.

Young played in Detroit from 2002-06 and had a career-high 29 home runs in 2003.

He rebounded from problems with alcohol, substance abuse and depression to become the National League Comeback Player of the Year in 2007 for the Washington Nationals.

Young played for St. Louis, Cincinnati, Detroit and Washington in a 13-year MLB career that began in 1996.

Young's brother, Delmon, plays for the Minnesota Twins.

QB JaMarcus Russell Busted for Possession of Controlled Substance

Wow, it looks like it didn’t take long for JaMarcus Russell to fall even farther from grace.

Russell, who was just recently fired as starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, was arrested in Mobile, Alabama on Monday for possession of a controlled substance.

According to the Mobile Press-Register that controlled substance is … codeine syrup.

Mobile County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Lori Myles says the 24-year-old former LSU star was arrested at his home during an undercover investigation. He graduated from high school in Mobile.

Online records show he was booked into the Mobile jail and released on $2,500 bond.

The Raiders released Russell in May, just three years after being the No. 1 overall draft pick. He won only seven of his 25 starts and was eventually benched. He’s been criticized for lack of a work ethic.

Russell’s arrest is not expected to impact his NFL standing but may impact his signing salary as he shops for a new team. Investigators did not explain today why they launched an undercover operation regarding Russell.

Seattle Seahawks Running Back Quinton Ganther Arrested For DUI In Sacramento

The California Highway Patrol arrested 25-year-old Seattle Seahawks running back Quinton Ganther in downtown Sacramento on suspicion of driving under the influence.

According to CHP Public Information Officer Erin Komatsubara, officers pulled over Ganther at 3:15 a.m. Saturday morning at I St. and 10th St. in downtown Sacramento on suspicion of DUI and he was arrested.

Sacramento County Jail records indicate the NFL player was released from jail.

Former Iowa basketball star Marble arrested again

Police arrested a former University of Iowa basketball star in Cedar Rapids early Friday morning.

Roy Marble Jr., 43, was arrested at 12:01 a.m. after a traffic stop in the 600 block of Second Avenue SE, according to police logs. He is charged with driving while barred, no insurance and using an improper license plate light.

Police Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, a police spokeswoman, said an officer on routine patrol noticed a Ford Expedition change lanes quickly on Seventh Street SE. The vehicle did not have a rear license plate light, so the officer stopped the vehicle. Marble was driving.

Marble is Iowa’s all-time leading scorer with 2,116 points. He was a first-round NBA draft pick of the Atlanta Hawks in 1989, but was suspended a year later for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He finished his professional career with 55 points in 29 games.

Last August, Marble was arrested in after a Cedar County deputy found marijuana and an open can of beer in his car during a traffic stop. A week later, he was fired as program director for the Iowa City Mayor’s Youth Empowerment Program.

Cedar Rapids police have arrested Marble four times in the last six years, Hamblin said.

NFL QB Simms arrested in NYC

Police say the son of legendary New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms has been arrested in Manhattan on charges of driving while on drugs.

Christopher Simms is a backup quarterback for the Tennessee Titans after being released by the Denver Broncos.

The 29-year-old was stopped on Houston (HOW'-stuhn) Street at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday. Police say he appeared to be slurring speech and his eyes were red. They say he had apparently been smoking marijuana.

He was awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Criminal court. It wasn't clear if he had an attorney and a call to his agent wasn't returned.

Cincy's Benson arrested for alleged assault

Bengals running back Cedric Benson was arrested Tuesday and charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching a bar employee in the face nearly a month ago.

Benson was booked into the Travis County jail, where he later posted $5,000 bail and was released. The charge of assault with injury carries a maximum potential penalty of up to $4,000 in fines and up to a year in jail.

According to the Austin police arrest affidavit, Benson was at Annie's West bar on May 30 when he got into an altercation with another, unknown bar patron that left him spitting blood from a cut lip. After staff intervened, witnesses told police Benson shoved a bar worker and was verbally abusive.

Benson's attorney, Sam Bassett, said his client "looks forward to telling his side of the story at the appropriate time."

Bengals spokesman P.J. Combs said the team was aware of the incident but said it was "inappropriate for us to comment until the matter is resolved through legal channels."

The arrest is just the latest brush with the law for Benson, and it could draw a suspension from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Ex-NFL player arrested after altercation with valet

A former pro football player from the Houston area was arrested for fleeing from police after an alleged altercation with a Washington Avenue valet.

Kevin Ware, 29, pushed a valet at Sanctuary Lounge in the West End around 1:45am on Sunday, according to police. The valet refused to press charges, but a Houston police officer took Ware into custody and put him into a police cruiser. Police say Ware became very belligerent and ran away from the cruiser, but was caught soon after.

Ware is charged with misdemeanor escape. He's due in court on July 2.

It's the third brush with the law for Ware. According to HPD, Ware had been charged with misdemeanor theft after allegedly using a worthless credit card at Cahill's in the West End on May 29. He also was convicted of misdemeanor assault on April 22 for another incident.

Ware played high school football at Klein Oak High School then went on to play for the University of Washington. He was a tight end in the NFL for the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers.

Titans' Morgan charged with speeding

Tennessee Titans defensive end Derrick Morgan was arrested Wednesday night after an interstate traffic stop in northwest Georgia.

Morgan, who was the 16th overall pick in this year's NFL draft, was charged with speeding and driving with a suspended license.

Gordon County, Ga., Sheriff Mitch Ralston said in a statement Friday that Morgan was traveling 91 mph in a 70-mph zone when stopped Wednesday in Resaca.

Morgan was jailed and released on a $2,108 bond.

According to The (Nashville) Tennessean, Morgan had been on his way back to Nashville for the Titans' minicamp.

Morgan, a defensive end, is from Atlanta and played for Georgia Tech. He has a July 26 court date.

A Titans representative said the team is aware of the traffic stop.

Morgan's agent, Ben Dogra, did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.

49ers' McDonald arrested on suspicion of DUI

Defensive lineman Ray McDonald was clocked driving 94 mph Saturday before being pulled over by the California High Patrol and eventually arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

McDonald, 25, a backup defensive end for the 49ers, apologized Monday for being a distraction.

"My intent is just to come out here and work hard and try to win ballgames this year," said McDonald, who declined to take questions about the incident.

"And I don't want this to be a distraction for the fans, my family, my teammates."

McDonald is the second professional athlete in Northern California in recent weeks to be pulled over after being observed traveling at a high rate of speed.

On May 31, Kings guard and NBA Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans was observed driving his Mercedes at 130 mph, according to the CHP, on Interstate 80. Evans was cited for reckless driving. There were no drugs or alcohol involved.

According to the CHP, McDonald's BMW was traveling 94 mph on southbound Interstate 280 in San Mateo County at around 6 p.m. Saturday. McDonald was pulled over, at which point the patrol officer noticed the odor of alcohol coming from the car, CHP officer Art Montiel said. McDonald was alone in the car.

McDonald was asked to exit his vehicle and was given a field sobriety test. It's not known whether McDonald was given a breath or blood test, Montiel said. However, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI at 6:15 p.m.

Lt. Ray Lunny of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said McDonald was booked into the county jail at around 8 p.m. and released on his own recognizance at around 9:30 p.m. McDonald has a July court date.

According to the 49ers, McDonald told the team what happened immediately after his arrest.

"We take these issues very seriously, but will reserve further comment at this time, as this is an ongoing legal matter," the team said in a statement. "The 49ers will continue to gather the facts and monitor the developments closely."

McDonald took part in Monday's team practice. Coach Mike Singletary was not available for comment.

Ex-boxer Whitaker found guilty to driving without a license

Pernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker, who won Olympic gold and six world championships in boxing, was found guilty Friday of driving without a license.

Whitaker had been charged with driving on a suspended license last Aug. 6.

A judge found Whitaker guilty of the lesser offense, said Commonwealth's Attorney Nancy Parr.

He was fined $250.

A previous story incorrectly stated that Whitaker pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.

Whitaker, 46, grew up in a Norfolk housing project and went on to win Olympic gold in 1984. He was often referred to as the best fighter pound-for-pound in the 1990s, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.

Whitaker has run into repeated legal troubles involving drugs, alcohol and driving since 1999, when he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence. He pleaded guilty to a DUI charge again in 2003. And he served 30 days on weekends after pleading guilty in May 2002 to reckless driving and not wearing a seat belt after being caught driving 90 mph in a 55 mph zone on Witchduck Road in Virginia Beach.

Whitaker was also twice convicted of cocaine possession – the first charge coming after Virginia Beach sheriff’s deputies discovered cocaine when they searched Whitaker before a three-day jail term on driving charges – and a 27-month prison term beginning in March 2003 for violating probation on a cocaine charge.

Super Bowl champ arrested in Oakley housing scam

OAKLEY "” A former NFL fullback and Super Bowl winner has been arrested in connection with an Internet scam that bilked victims out of thousands of dollars by fraudulently renting out vacant homes, police said.

James Hodgins, 33, a San Jose native who now lives in Oakley, was arrested Tuesday night, police said. Hodgins played fullback for the St. Louis Rams when they won the Super Bowl in 2000. A San Jose State alumnus, he also played for the Arizona Cardinals and finished his football career with the New York Jets in 2006.

Another suspect, 39-year-old Carlos Gomez, of Oakley and San Francisco, was arrested in May on suspicion of fraud, theft under false pretenses and burglary.

Because investigators suspect the operation involved more victims and jurisdictions, the District Attorney"s Office is holding off on charges until a larger case can be compiled.

"It will get filed on eventually," said Oakley police Detective Sean Eriksen. "We"re still looking into other locations. This is going to be pretty big."

Oakley police Chief Chris Thorsen said police received a tip about a scam in February. More victims came forward, and investigators started to piece together a common thread: The home "rentals" were posted on Craigslist using fake names and dummy corporations, and prospective renters met with someone posing as a homeowner or real estate agent who asked for a cash deposit as well as first and last months" rent.

The renters "” six victims have been identified "” learned their housing agreements were bogus when a bank representative, real estate agent or resident with actual claim to the home showed up, often while the renters were settling in, Thorsen said.

In at least one case, police broke the news to a victim.

"We had to tell some poor guy to leave," Eriksen said. Some banks are helping victims to stay in the homes they had occupied, he said.

Police got a break when they were called to an Oakley home May 23 for a "suspicious circumstance." Responding officers, already familiar with the scam, came across a man posing as a real estate agent and quickly determined that he was lying, Thorsen said.

They arrested the man, identified as Gomez. From there, detectives further unraveled the scheme.

On Tuesday, police served a search warrant at Hodgins" home and recovered evidence of the operation, Thorsen said.

Thorsen said his department has contacted other police agencies for links to the case.

Gomez and Hodgins targeted vacant homes that either had been foreclosed or were under short sale, broke in and changed the locks, Eriksen said.

The arrests are a cautionary tale, Thorsen said, stressing that prospective renters verify an agent"s credentials.

There are other telling signs, Thorsen added, such as someone who takes messages on one phone line and makes calls from another, with the number usually blocked.

"You should ask, "Hey, where"s your office at?—‰" Thorsen said. "If they hesitate, that should give you cause for concern."

Neal arrested hours after posting bail

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. -- A former NASCAR driver has been arrested for the third time in three weeks, this time for investigation of drug possession.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department said James Edward Neal was arrested Friday, hours after bailing out of jail on charges of attempting to rape a woman. Authorities said a bail bondsman who went to look for Neal saw methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in his hotel.

The 56-year-old San Clemente man was arrested May 17 after leading deputies on a high-speed chase in a Corvette. Hours after completing sentencing on charges stemming from the chase, he was arrested Monday on suspicion of trying to rape a woman he had met just once.

Neal was a NASCAR driver in the early 1980s. Deputies did not know if he had an attorney.

Former NFL player Keith McCants arrested yet again on drug-related charges

MOBILE, Ala. -- Former professional football player Keith McCants was arrested at midday today on a charge of use and possession of drug paraphernalia, Mobile police said. It is at least the fourth arrest in less than a year for the former defensive player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, University of Alabama and Murphy High School, according to Press-Register archives.

McCants was released about 2 hours after he was booked at Mobile County Metro Jail, according to jail records.

Police spokesman Officer Christopher Levy said narcotics officers spotted McCants in the 1300 block of Hercules Street about noon and found an item considered drug paraphernalia. Levy would not specify what the item was.

On May 4, McCants was arrested on a charge of attempting to purchase drugs, and on Dec. 19, McCants was picked up on a paraphernalia charge as well as a charge of loitering for the purpose of drug activity, according to Press-Register files.

Last Oct. 20, McCants was arrested on outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court to answer two misdemeanor drug charges, according to the files.

Former NASCAR Driver Jimmy Neal Back In Jail

LAKE FOREST, Calif. -- A one-time NASCAR driver was back in custody Monday on rape charges just 4 1/2 hours after he was released from jail for leading police on a 140 mile an hour chase.

Jimmy Neal, of San Clemente, had left an Orange County jail at 1:30 a.m. Friday and was arrested at the home of an acquaintance at 6 a.m., said sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino.

"He was released and went to the home of a 55-year-old woman whom he had met just one time before," Amormino said.

Deputies were sent to her apartment, in the 20700 block of El Toro Road in Lake Forest, at 6 a.m. when they got a report that a man and woman were fighting. "The woman said James Neal had attempted to rape her and would not leave," Amormino said.

He is being charged with attempted rape and false imprisonment, and this was 4-1/2 hours after being released from jail," he said.

Neal complained of chest pains and was taken to Mission Hospital, and would be booked later, the spokesman said.

Earlier this month, deputies attempted to pull over Neal for not having a front license plate -- a noncriminal "fix-it" infraction -- in San Clemente. But the former racer roared off down Interstate 5 in his Chevrolet Corvette, reaching speeds of 140 mph across Camp Pendleton and northern San Diego County.

Deputies and CHP officers gave up on the chase because of a danger to motorists. But the hapless driver was spotted on the side of the freeway with a blown engine, and arrested.

Neal, 56, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of evading while driving recklessly, and served about two weeks until he was released Monday morning.

Neal competed in NASCAR in the early 1980s, but never won a national race.

Miami Dolphins' Phillip Merling arrested for alleged battery on pregnant woman

Miami Dolphins DE Phillip Merling was arrested on Wednesday and charged with an alleged aggravated battery on a pregnant woman.

Merling, 6-5, 305 pounds, is a third-year player who has appeared in all 32 games for the Dolphins his first two seasons. He was arrested in Broward County, Fla, where the local sheriff's website reported that Merling should have known the alleged victim is pregnant.

There are few details on the allegations thus far.

The Dolphins are scheduled to open a veteran minicamp on Friday.

Former NBA player Jason Caffey arrested, charged with domestic violence

MOBILE, Ala. -- Former NBA player Jason Caffey was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a third-degree domestic violence charge stemming from an incident earlier this year, Mobile police said. Caffey, 36, was released later on $1,000 bail. Police spokesman Officer Christopher Levy said Caffey is accused of confronting a 46-year-old woman on February 10 in the 1600 block of St. Stephens Road, slapping and striking her in the head and kicking her after she fell. He described the woman's injuries as minor.

Caffey played seven years in the National Basketball Association after careers at the University of Alabama and Davidson High School, and was part of the Chicago Bulls' 1995-96 and 1996-97 NBA championship teams.

Saints player arrested over the weekend

The offseason continues to be the time of year when players are left more to their own devices, and thus some have less occasion to comply with the law.

Allegedly.

Over the weekend, Saints rookie Harry Coleman was busted for simple battery, according to James Varney of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Details are sketchy, and law enforcement officials have speculated that the incident occurred at a Chitimacha casino.

Coleman joined the Saints as an undrafted free agent, so he was already a long shot to make it to the 53-man roster. His chances just got even slimmer.

Chargers S Kevin Ellison arrested in Redondo Beach

San Diego Chargers safety Kevin Ellison has been arrested in Redondo Beach on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance.

Police say the 23-year-old was arrested Monday afternoon after he was stopped for speeding in a school zone near his former high school.

Sgt. Peter Grimm says a search of Ellison's vehicle turned up 100 pills of Vicodin, which is a controlled substance. He was booked and released on $10,000 bail.

Grimm says Ellison didn't have a prescription and even if he did, it was an unusually large amount of pills for a pharmacist to distribute.

Ellison played four seasons for Southern California and started nine games as a rookie for the Chargers in 2009. His older brother Keith is a linebacker for the Buffalo Bills.

Former Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu arrested on suspicion of DUI

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Hideki Irabu, a one-time rising star from Japan, was arrested in Gardena for allegedly driving while intoxicated, police said Monday.

Irabu, 41, of Rancho Palos Verdes was stopped for a possible traffic violation about 1:30 a.m. May 17 in the 3100 block of Redondo Beach Boulevard, according to Lt. Steven Prendergast.

He was booked just after 2 a.m. and released around 10:30 a.m. after posting $5,000 bail, according to Sheriff's Department jail records.

Irabu was booked on a possible misdemeanor, but a decision on whether or what charges will be filed will come in about a month, Prendergast added.

Known infamously as the player called a "fat pus-y toad" by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for shirking his duties during a spring training game, Irabu pitched in the major leagues from 1997 to 2002.

He came to the United States with great promise after eight exceptional years in Japan. But he didn't live up to his reputation, and his professional career was cut short after stints with the Yankees, Montreal Expos and Texas Rangers.

Last year, he signed with the Golden Baseball League's Long Beach Armada, an independent professional organization.

According to a news release issued in April 2009, Irabu returned to Japan and continued to play until he was sidelined by a knee injury.

The Long Beach Armada has suspended operations, according to its website.

Kevin Outcoult, commissioner for the Golden Baseball League, said Irabu left the Armada after half a season to return to Japan, but he doesn't believe Irabu is currently signed with any team.