Twenty-eight-year-old NFL wide receiver Byron Pringle was arrested in Florida following reports of him recklessly driving while on a suspended license.
According to PEOPLE, the athlete was stopped by officers in Wesley Chapel, Florida while he was performing stunts in his 2016 Dodge Challenge SRT Hellcat. His vehicle was spotted creating a disturbance in a neighborhood with burning rubber smells and smoke emerging from the scene of the crime.
Florida Highway Patrol was then alerted and the NFL player was taken into custody.
As stated by his arrest records, his driving “reduced the visibility to nearly zero” for other drivers in the area and created marks on the pavement “consistent with a vehicle performing ‘a donut.'”
When officers searched Pringle’s car, they observed two other passengers: one adult passenger in the front seat and a child in the back. In addition, PEOPLE included the information that his “Florida license was found to be suspended for financial responsibility as of Feb. 10 with a seize tag order and another suspension for failure to pay a traffic fine as of March 7.”
After allegedly being hostile with law enforcement, he was brought to the Pasco County Jail. As of now, it remains unclear if he has obtained an attorney and plans to take plea deals.
Chicago Bears General Manager speaks on behalf of Byron Pringle arrest incident
Pringle is currently signed with the Chicago Bears for a one-year contract worth $4.125 million. He was signed as a free agent following his 2018-20121 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bears have been relatively quiet about their thoughts and feelings towards the player after his arrest. However, General Manager Ryan Poles was adamant that the team still has a positive relationship with the player.
“I know him very well. And it’s not a reflection of who he is at all,” Poles explained, according to NBC Sports. “You don’t want your guys in the news at all . . . [so] it’s a disappointment. But we had a good conversation about it. We’re in a good place. We’ll keep [the details] internal.”
If Pringle is charged, he could face a third-degree felony for driving on a suspended license in the state of Florida and various fines, which are not limited to prison time for reckless driving. In addition to this punishment, he could face further prosecution under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.
