Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips was arrested Friday and charged with misdemeanor DWI. Phillips still traveled with the Vikings to Las Vegas for Sunday’s game while the team continues to look into the incident.
“Wes immediately notified the team following his arrest last night. This morning we contacted the NFL, and after internal discussion, made the decision Wes will travel with the team to Las Vegas this afternoon. We will continue to gather information regarding the incident and have further comment at the appropriate time,” the Vikings said in a statement.
DWI Arrest Details
According to the police report, Phillips was stopped on I-394 in Minneapolis around 10 p.m. on Friday night. The police officer ultimately asked Phillips to take a breathalyzer, which revealed that he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10, just slightly over the 0.08 legal limit. He was eventually booked into the Hennepin County jail around 11. p.m., but was later released after posting a $300 bond.
Phillips was charged with misdemeanor DWI, which is punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine up to $1,000 and the loss of a driver’s license for an extended period. Given that it was his first offense, it seems likely that he will be able to avoid jail time if convicted. We wouldn’t be surprised to hear that his lawyers are pushing for a plea deal for a lesser charge like reckless driving, especially considering that his BAC was just slightly over the legal limit. He will make his first appearance in Hennepin County Court on December 21.
This is just another blemish for a team that simply can’t seem to stay out of trouble in recent years. We haven’t blogged every arrest, but a simple search of our blog archives uncovered plenty of results:
Vikings First Round Pick Faces Charges After Being Caught Driving 140 MPH
Vikings Player Arrest For DUI With Loaded Gun In Vehicle
Two More Minnesota Vikings Earn DWIs
Vikings Most Arrested Team in NFL
Another Viking Facing DUI Charges
Hopefully the Vikings can stay out of the police blotter for the rest of the season, but if they don’t, they can always turn to Appelman Law Firm for defense. And if you need legal help for a criminal or traffic case, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
