Former Vikings Pro Bowler Arrested In Shocking Turn Of Events
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen says his recent arrest has been misunderstood. According to him, the situation was not as serious as it first appeared.
TMZ reported that police pulled Griffen over in Winona, Minnesota, on Thursday night at around 8:12 p.m. Officers allegedly recorded him driving 62 mph in a 40 mph zone on Riverview Drive. The outlet also reported that a representative from the Winona County Detention Center said Griffen was arrested on a gross misdemeanor charge for allegedly driving without a required ignition interlock device. Jail records show he later posted bond and was released.
Not long after the arrest, Griffen shared his side of the story on Instagram. He said he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs and explained that the issue was related to his driver’s license and paperwork, not impaired driving.
According to court records, Griffen is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 28.
Griffen Says Paperwork Caused The Issue
In his Instagram post, Griffen explained that he forgot to complete a required class and test. He also said he recently moved and planned to update his address and finish the required steps on Monday.
“Nothing happened when I got pulled over last night,” Griffen wrote. “My license was revoked because I forgot to complete the required class/test, and I just moved, so I was planning to take care of both the class and the address change on Monday.”
He also pushed back against any suggestion that alcohol or drugs played a role in the stop.
“I wasn’t drinking, wasn’t smoking, and wasn’t doing anything wrong. Everything is fine,” Griffen wrote while pointing to his long period of sobriety.
The charge involves an interlock device, which requires a driver to provide a breath sample registering 0.00 before a vehicle can start.
Moreover, Griffen has also faced a similar legal issue in the past. In 2023, he was arrested in Chanhassen, Minnesota, on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Griffen had a good NFL career after the Vikings selected him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He spent 10 seasons with the franchise and earned four Pro Bowl selections. During that time, he recorded 85.5 sacks and became one of the team’s top defensive players of the past decade.
