Eagles tackle Jason Peters arrested for drag racing, resisting by flight

Tabby Soignier | USA TODAY Sports

MONROE, La. -- Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle and five-time Pro Bowler Jason Peters was arrested in Monroe early Wednesday morning after drag racing and resisting a police officer by flight, police said.

According to the arrest affidavit, Deputy L. Deal observed a white Camaro and blue sedan at the red light of U.S. 165 North and Central Street around 4:45 a.m.

When the traffic light turned green, the Camaro and sedan accelerated at a high rate of speed and appeared to be racing.

The deputy activated emergency lights and attempted to pull over the vehicles. The sedan immediately pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway, but the Camaro, driven by Peters, accelerated to an extreme high rate of speed and exited U.S. 165 North and proceeded eastbound on Interstate 20, the affadavit said.

The Camaro exceeded speeds of 100 mph while the deputy was in pursuit. The Camaro exited Interstate 20 and stopped in shopping center parking lot, police said.

The deputy gave verbal commands to Peters to get out of the vehicle, which he obeyed. Peters was restrained in handcuffs, arrested and transported to Ouachita Correctional Center and booked on charges of drag racing and resisting by flight, police said.

"We are aware of the reports that Jason Peters was arrested this morning in Louisiana," the Eagles said in a statement. "We have been in contact with Jason and due to the legal nature of this matter we will not have any further comment at this point."



This is Peters' second arrest, both occurring in Louisiana. He was charged with disturbing the peace in March 2011 while in Shreveport for a Rick Ross concert. Officers asked him to turn down the volume in his vehicle and he was not cooperative, police said.

Peters is entering his fifth season with the Eagles but missed all of last season to recover from two tears to the same Achilles tendon. It is unknown why Peters was in the Monroe area.

The Queen City, Texas, native started his career with the Buffalo Bills, signing as a free agent out of the University of Arkansas.

Soignier also writes for the (Monroe, La.) News-Star, a Gannett property.

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