Browns release player accused of drunkenly crashing SUV into restaurant

The Cleveland Browns released defensive end Lonnie Phelps on Thursday after he was arrested in Florida on a DUI charge and accused by police of crashing an SUV into a restaurant.

Phelps, 23, was booked into the Monroe County Detention Center, where he was no longer listed as an inmate Thursday. Online records showed he has an arraignment scheduled for July 2.

The restaurant, Red Shoe Island Bistro, said in a social media post that “thankfully” it was closed at the time of Wednesday’s crash and that no one was hurt.

“It could’ve been really bad,” said the restaurant, which shared video footage of interior damage. “Angels were looking out for us all.”

Phelps and a female passenger were not fully cooperative with authorities, according to a police report (via WFLA), and he was described as “very agitated” and emanating a “strong odor of alcohol.” Phelps also refused a breath test, per police (via cleveland.com).

The Key West Police Department did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for additional information.

The Browns did not disclose a reason when announcing that they waived Phelps. The team noted that it signed him last year as an undrafted free agent before he spent the 2023 season on the practice squad and was signed to a reserve/future contract in January. Phelps participated earlier this month in Cleveland’s mandatory minicamp, according to the Associated Press.

A native of the Cincinnati area, Phelps spent his first three college seasons at Ohio’s Miami University, then played as redshirt junior at Kansas. The all-Big 12 second team selection led the 2022 Jayhawks with seven sacks and was fourth with 57 tackles.

The owner of the Red Shoe Island Bistro told WFLA that the venue was “closed for vacation” Wednesday.

“Had we not been at the Janet Jackson concert in Chicago,” he said, “the outcome would have been devastating.”