Aldon Smith arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run, DUI, released by 49ers

Video: 49ers' Aldon Smith Apologizes After Hit And Run, DUI Arrest

The chronic off-the-field troubles of NFL star Aldon Smith — from an arrest for possessing an assault weapon to a drunken car crash and a stint in rehab — culminated Friday with the San Francisco 49ers cutting him from the team following an alleged relapse and another run-in with the law.

The defensive standout’s four-year career with the Niners, which featured a Super Bowl appearance in 2013, came to an abrupt close 12 hours after he was arrested Thursday night in Santa Clara on suspicion of hit-and-run, driving under the influence and vandalism.

Smith was booked at the Santa Clara County Jail. He posted $26,000 bail and was released Friday morning. Soon after, the 49ers released him from the team.

An emotional head coach Jim Tomsula said the team will not turn its back on Smith.

“It’s a sad day. This is a day that doesn’t have anything to do about football,” Tomsula said at a news conference. “Although he won’t be playing football for the San Francisco 49ers, he will be supported and helped and he will not have to walk this path alone. That comes from our ownership, down. He will not have to walk this path alone.”

Smith denied he was arrested for driving under the influence but did not explain details of what led to him being locked up.

San Francisco 49ers' Aldon Smith sits on bench in final minutes of 34-0 loss to Denver Broncos during NFL preseason game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday, August 17, 2014. San Francisco 49ers' Aldon Smith sits on bench in final minutes of 34-0 loss to Denver Broncos during NFL preseason game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday, August 17, 2014. Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 28 Caption Close Aldon Smith arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run, DUI, released by 49ers 1 / 28 Back to Gallery

“Justice will be served. The truth will come out. There’s no DUI, and I’m sorry for anybody I let down,” Smith told reporters outside the jail just moments after posting bail.

“It’s time I need to speak,” he continued. “I want everybody to understand this wasn’t a DUI. The situation that happened could have been handled differently and I apologize to everybody I did let down, and I apologized for how it all played out. It will work out how it is supposed to work out.”

Tomsula said the decision to release Smith came after he had a heart-to-heart conversation with the player.

“There are things that need to be addressed with 100 percent of everything he has,” Tomsula said.

Santa Clara police officers received a call at 8:46 p.m. Thursday involving a collision in the parking lot of an apartment complex on the 500 block of Moreland Way and determined a hit-and-run and vandalism to a parked car had occurred, said Lt. Kurt Clarke, a police spokesman.

Smith, who lives in the apartment complex, backed his GMC truck into the parked car, Clarke said. As he was exiting his truck, his door slammed the already damaged vehicle, leading to the vandalism charge, Clarke said. After exchanging heated words with the car owner, Smith walked away from the scene, Clarke said.

The player was nowhere in sight when officers arrived, but walked back roughly 90 minutes later and was identified as the individual responsible for the damage, Clarke said. Smith also exhibited signs of being under the influence of alcohol, he said.

Following field sobriety and Breathalyzer tests conducted at the scene, Smith was arrested at 11:39 p.m. on suspicion of driving under the influence, hit-and-run and vandalism, Clarke said.

Clarke said the investigation was continuing, and once completed the case will be sent to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office for review.

At Levi’s Stadium Friday, fans who came to training camp were disappointed to learn it was closed to the public on top of hearing the news that Smith is gone. Eduardo Cisneros, a longtime fan who came from Pittsburg, said he was sorry to hear about Smith’s departure.

“I was upset, but I mean, I guess it was the best choice,” said Cisneros, 21. “He was definitely one my favorite players.

“I think they did give him a good amount of chances — he wasn’t able to learn.”

After practice, wide receiver Anquan Boldin said he and his teammates were stunned.

“I think everybody was shocked," Boldin said. “I wasn’t here the entire offseason, but from what I’ve gathered he’s worked his butt off. And it looked that way when I got here. So I think it was just a shock to everybody.”

Smith, the Niners’ first-round draft choice in 2011, sounded upbeat as he entered training camp, saying on Sunday, “I’m feeling really good. My body feels good. I’m ready to go.”

Team general manager Trent Baalke said on Tuesday that he wanted to re-sign Smith, 25, to a long-term contract.

Smith, one of the top pass-rushers in the NFL, missed nine games in the 2014 season while serving a suspension for violations of the league’s substance-abuse and personal-conduct policies.

He was to be paid $9.75 million for the 2015 season, but his previous off-field transgressions prompted a restructuring of his contract in March to make it a bonus-driven deal. Under the new terms, Smith was scheduled to earn $322,150 for each game he was on the team’s 53-man roster, and another $2 million if he played 50 percent of defensive snaps or had eight sacks.

He was also paid $200,000 monthly bonuses from April to July, and was to earn $300,000 in August.

Smith also missed time the previous season to undergo treatment at an inpatient facility following a DUI arrest on Sept. 20, 2013, after he smashed his car into a tree in San Jose. He later pleaded no contest to the DUI charges and to three misdemeanor counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon, stemming from a wild June 2012 party at his home, in which he was stabbed and two people were shot. Smith was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to serve 235 hours of community service.

Smith was also arrested on April 13, 2014, at Los Angeles International Airport. Police said he was randomly selected for a secondary screening and became uncooperative with the process, telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb. No charges were filed.

On Tuesday, Baalke spoke glowingly of Smith’s efforts to straighten out his personal life.

“Aldon’s like any young player, he’s growing up, he’s maturing. You see that with a lot of these guys,” Baalke said. “... Really pleased with the way he’s handled things, the way he’s working both personally and professionally.”

Chronicle staff writer Eric Branch contributed to this report.

Hamed Aleaziz and Jenna Lyons are San Francisco Chronicle staff writer s . E-mail: haleaziz@sfchronicle.com , jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @haleaziz and @jennajourno