ST. LOUIS – A rash of recent NFL arrests now includes a face of the future for the St. Louis Rams.
Defensive end Robert Quinn, a 6-foot-4, 264-pound North Carolina product who was selected 14th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, was arrested for driving while intoxicated July 10. At 5:38 that morning, the Florissant (Mo.) Police Department responded to a single-car, non-injury accident involving Quinn's sport utility vehicle on an exit ramp of eastbound Interstate 270 in the north St. Louis County suburb.
Responding officers suspected Quinn, 22, was intoxicated shortly after their arrival. The player was arrested and transported to the Florissant Police Department, where he was kept until posting a $900 bond at 10 a.m. that day, according to Capt. Tim Lowery, a police spokesman.
KSDK, St. Louis' NBC affiliate, first reported the story Thursday.
A Florissant Municipal Court clerk confirmed to FOXSportsMidwest.com that Quinn also was charged with a failure to exercise a high degree of care. In addition, he was ticketed for having no insurance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 11 and Quinn will face a drunken-driving charge, according to the Associated Press.
"From what I understand, he was fully cooperative with the entire investigation," Lowery said. "Most people are cooperative with us, and he certainly was."
Lowery said he had no knowledge as to why Quinn's arrest was unknown for nine days.
Quinn appeared in 15 games during his rookie season and earned 23 tackles with five sacks. He also made an impression on special teams by blocking three punts. He is expected to be a key part of a promising line that includes defensive end Chris Long and defensive tackles Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford.
The Rams report to training camp on July 28 at the ContinuityX Training Center in Earth City, Mo. They will begin their first campaign under veteran coach Jeff Fisher, who replaced Steve Spagnuolo in January after St. Louis went 2-14 last season.
Quinn's arrest follows a number of others throughout the NFL in recent days. On Saturday, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was arrested for driving under the influence. Also on Saturday, Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil was arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm. On Monday, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant was arrested on misdemeanor family violence.
"The Rams and the NFL office are aware of the situation regarding Robert Quinn," read a statement released by the Rams on Thursday. "We take such matters very seriously, and we will act accordingly once the legal process plays out."
