San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith ran into trouble again.
Smith was arrested by Santa Clara police on Thursday night for a hit and run, DUI and vandalism, the department tweeted on Friday. Online records show the 25-year-old was booked on Friday with a bail of $26,000. Smith was bailed out Friday morning, according to KTVU.
The Niners released Smith Friday.
"This organization has tried very hard to help Aldon fight his issues. Although he is no longer a member of this team, our support and concern for him will continue," the team said in a statement.
On Friday, a Santa Clara Police Department spokesperson described the incident, which occurred around 8:50 PT Thursday night.
"As (Smith) was backing his vehicle to park his vehicle he hit another vehicle that was adjacent to his vehicle," the spokesperson said. Smith then left the scene, but returned on foot and submitted to field sobriety testing. The SCPD spokesperson described Smith as "cooperative" with the officers but would not disclose his Blood Alcohol Content, saying that information was part of a continuing investigation. In addition to the DUI and hit and run charges, Smith faces a charge of vandalism for opening his car door and damaging an adjacent vehicle.
Smith served a nine-game suspension last season for violating the league's policy on personal conduct and substances of abuse. In 2013 he missed five games following a DUI arrest and voluntarily checked himself into a treatment facility.
The latest arrest, his third for DUI, is the most recent in a long list of off-field transgressions for Smith. He received a 12-day sentence and three years of probation in July following a no-contest plea to three felony weapons charges and two misdemeanor DUI charges. The weapons charges (and one of the DUI charges) were in connection to a 2012 party at Smith's residence where he was stabbed.
Smith also made waves last year when he was accused of making a bomb threat to a TSA agent at Los Angeles International Airport, but charges weren't filed.
Upon being released from jail Friday, Smith claimed he didn't get a DUI.
"I want everybody to understand this wasn't a DUI. The situation that happened could have been handled differently," he told KTVU. "I apologize to everybody I did let down and I apologize for how it all played out."
Thursday's arrest ended his career in San Francisco.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported in March that Smith re-did his contract, shifting to a pay-as-you-go structure. The redo converted his $9.75 million salary into monthly roster bonuses beginning in April. Facing another likely suspension Smith probably won't see all those bonuses, if he remains on the team.
"The thought behind it is that Aldon realizes he's been his own worst enemy," Smith's agent Doug Hendrickson said at the time of the deal. "He has come a long way since he was suspended. Ultimately his goal, my goal, and the team's goal is for him to sign a long-term contract with the Niners. ...
"He's basically saying, 'I'm willing to bet on myself.'"
For the 49ers it's an added bombshell in an offseason of big losses. Coach Jim Tomsula's challenging job just became immensely more difficult without his best pass rusher.
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