Jay Cutler Attempted to Flee the Scene of DUI Arrest, Police Allege, as New Details Emerge

Mar. 15, 2025

New details are emerging aboutJay Cutler’sDUI arreston Thursday evening in Franklin, Tenn.

The retired NFL quarterback and reality television star was arrested after police responding to the scene noticed he had “bloodshot eyes” and smelled of alcohol, according to a statement police shared with PEOPLE on Friday morning.

The arresting officer writes in the affidavit that police then searched Cutler’s vehicle and discovered a rifle, as well as a loaded handgun, according to the Williamson County Tennessee document.

A spokesperson with the Franklin Police Department told PEOPLE on Friday morning that Cutler was charged with a DUI, illegally possessing a weapon while intoxicated, implied consent and failure to exercise due care to avoid a collision. Cutler was released Thursday night on a $5,000 bond, the spokesperson said.

Jay Cutler.Franklin Police Department

Franklin Police Department

The arresting officer says he “noticed Mr. Cutler staggering, swaying, and heavy-footed while walking” at the scene of the crash, according to the affidavit.

“I also noticed that he spoke thick-tongued, slurred, and mumbled,” the officer reports in the document, adding, “Mr. Cutler’s eyes were bloodshot, glassy, red/pink, watery, and dilated.”

The officer noted that Cutler “had an overwhelming odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person” and initially denied drinking any alcohol before the collision occurred. “I then informed Mr. Cutler that I am an Advanced Roadside Impairment Enforcement Officer and knew he was lying to me,” the officer writes in the affidavit. “I then asked him again how much alcohol he had consumed and Mr. Cutler stated he had a little bit.”

Cutler then refused a field sobriety test, according to the officer, who then took him into custody and later issued a blood search warrant. The formerVery Cavallaristar had his blood drawn to test for alcohol at the Williamson Medical Center, according to the affidavit.

After Cutler was taken into custody, the arresting officer says a patrol officer searched Cutler’s truck and “a rifle was found in the back seat as well as a loaded Glock handgun in the center console.”

Jay Cutler.John Mersits/CSM/Shutterstock

John Mersits/CSM/Shutterstock

Cutler “denies being in a crash, but there was a small dent in the rear of the other vehicle,” the officer wrote in the affidavit, noting that Cutler’s truck “has a winch in the front” which didn’t allow police to see any potential damage from the alleged crash.

PEOPLE has reached out to Cutler’s representatives for comment.

Cutler played 12 seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, the Miami Dolphins and the Denver Broncos. Hemarriedformer Laguna Beach starKristin Cavallariin 2013, and the couple later became the focus of E!’sVery Cavallariprogram between 2018 until 2020.

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Cavallari and Cutler, who share three children together — sonsCamden, 11, Jaxon, 9, and daughter Saylor, 8 —filed for divorcein 2020, citing “irreconcilable differences" and “inappropriate marital conduct” as reasons for their breakup.

Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler.Todd Williamson/Getty

In their divorce filing, Cavallari claimed Cutler was “guilty of such inappropriate marital conduct as renders further cohabitation unsafe and improper” and said “any misconduct alleged or implied against her” in Cutler’s divorce petition “was in response to and/or as a result of misconduct on [Cutler’s] behalf.”

Cutler is due in court regarding the DUI and weapon possession charges on Jan. 16, 2025.

source: people.com