Landon Haaf

WFAA

DALLAS -- Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jeremy Jeffress was arrested overnight in Dallas County, records show.

According to the arrest warrant, just before 3 a.m., an officer observed a black 2009 Mercedes Benz MC5 driven by Jeffress traveling northwest in the 2500 block of Maple Avenue switch lanes without signaling, cutting off another driver, who honked at the Mercedes.

The officer pulled Jeffress over and noted he had bloodshot eyes and could smell alcohol on Jeffress' breath. He requested Jeffress' drivers license and proof of insurance, which the pitcher handed over, along with a Texas Rangers club card that showed he played for the team.

Jeffress told the officer he drank three-to-four cups of Hennessy cognac and Coke between 12:15 a.m. and 1:15 a.m., and he was driving the woman with him from the nightclub Sisu to her car in the 2400 block of Mahon Street.

Before a field sobriety test began, Jeffress told the officer he had to urinate. The officer said Jeffress would go through the sobriety test first.

The officer noted six clues to intoxication during the eye test portion of the exam and two clues in the walk and turn test when Jeffress couldn't maintain his balance during the instruction and began the exam too soon. Between the walk and turn and the one-leg stand portion of the test, Jeffress urinated on himself. He then placed his other foot on the ground during that portion of the test.

He completed the rest of the field sobriety test without incident, according to the document, but officers arrested Jeffress based on the traffic violation, Jeffress' description of his drinking, the bloodshot eyes, the smell of alcohol, the urination, and the performance in the field sobriety test.

As an officer searched Jeffress, he urinated on himself once again.

Officers searching Jeffress' vehicle also found a bag containing a leafy green substance believed to be marijuana or synthetic marijuana in the glove compartment. Jeffress denied it was his and told police he had "several passengers in the vehicle earlier in the day." His passenger also denied it was hers.

Jeffress was suspended two times -- for 50 games in 2007 and 100 games in 2009 -- for testing positive for "drug of abuse" as a minor leaguer with the Milwaukee Brewers under the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The first failed test doesn’t come with a suspension. Jeffress admitted in 2008 that he had a problem with marijuana, and he voluntarily checked himself into a drug rehabilitation program after his ban in 2009.

Since a link couldn't be developed as to who possessed the marijuana or synthetic marijuana in this case, neither Jeffress nor his passenger were charged, but police took the substance into evidence. They also tested Jeffress' blood for both marijuana and synthetic cannabinoid.

Jeffress was arrested for DWI. The charges were posted to the Dallas County Jail website around 9:30 a.m.

Following the arrest, the Rangers placed him on the Major League Baseball restricted list, effective for Friday’s game with the Cleveland Indians.

“The Rangers are certainly disappointed in Jeremy’s actions of early this morning,” said President of Baseball Operations Jon Daniels. “We have been in touch with Jeremy’s representatives and Major League Baseball, and are continuing to work through this situation and gather more information.”

The arrest warrant indicates a breathalyzer test showed Jeffress had a .115 blood-alcohol concentration at 2:54 a.m. He refused a blood test, but police obtained a warrant and drew three vials of blood from Jeffress just before 5 a.m.

Dallas County Jail records say Jeffress was booked into jail at 5:13 a.m. Friday. He was released just before noon.

News 8 reached out to the Rangers for comment. The club responded with the following statement:

The Texas Rangers are aware of the situation involving Jeremy Jeffress that took place early this morning. At this time, we are in the process of the gathering information and have no further comment.

Jeffress, 28, was acquired in a trade with the Brewers just moments before the Aug. 1 trade deadline passed -- the same deal that brought catcher Jonathan Lucroy to Texas. Jeffress, a hard-throwing righty, has allowed four runs in nine innings of work with the Rangers.

He recorded a 2.22 ERA and 27 saves in 47 games as a Brewer before the trade.

Texas played the first game of a 10-game home stand Thursday night in Arlington, beating Cleveland 9-0.