MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Former Minnesota Viking Erin Henderson is accused of driving drunk and possessing at least 10 grams of marijuana in an arrest last November, according to charges filed last week in Hennepin County Court.
Henderson was charged with two counts of fourth-degree DWI, careless driving and possessing over 1.4 grams of marijuana in a motor vehicle, all misdemeanors, in connection with the incident. According to the charges, Eden Prairie Police were called at about 3:19 a.m. on Nov. 19, 2013, to the 15000 block of Porchlight Lane on a report of an intoxicated man.
While responding to the scene, officers were notified that the man, identified as Henderson, had left the area in a white Jaguar. Police spotted the vehicle parked with its lights off at Fredrick Miller-Spring and Henderson sitting in the front driver’s seat.
The complaint states after approaching Henderson, the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol, saw that his eyes were bloodshot and noticed his speech was slurred. Henderson told police he drove to Fredrick Miller-Spring from his home on Porchlight Lane, but denied using alcohol. Henderson failed an initial field sobriety test, then refused to perform the walk and turn and one leg stand tests.
A preliminary breath test showed Henderson had a blood alcohol level of .106, above the legal limit of .08 for driving in Minnesota, and he was placed under arrest. While searching Henderson, police found two pieces of “taffy” that tested positive for the drug THC. The complaint states in a subsequent search of his vehicle, police found a baggie containing 10.8 grams of marijuana.
Henderson was taken to the Eden Prairie Police Station and took another breath test, where he had a blood alcohol content of .11 at about 5:39 a.m. The case remains under investigation.
Henderson played linebacker for the Vikings, but was released from the team in early February with a year left on his contract.
He was also arrested Jan. 1 on suspicion of drunk driving after crashing his SUV in Chanhassen.
