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.