Former Minnesota Vikings standout Everson Griffen was taken into custody following an alleged speeding stop in southeastern Minnesota, authorities said.
The former NFL defensive end was pulled over Thursday night in Winona, a city located about two hours southeast of Minneapolis.
Police allege Griffen was traveling 62 mph in an area where the posted speed limit was 40 mph.
According to TMZ, a representative for the Winona County Detention Center said Griffen was booked on a gross misdemeanor charge for allegedly driving without an ignition interlock device, which requires a driver to blow a 0.00 reading into a breathalyzer before the vehicle can start.
Court records show Griffen was later released after posting bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on August 28.
Former Minnesota Vikings player Everson Griffen was arrested in connection with a driving-related violation
Authorities say Griffen was accused of driving 22 mph over the limit and operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device, which prevents a car from starting unless the driver provides a 0.00 breathalyzer reading
Griffen addressed the incident Friday in a statement posted to his Instagram account, offering his version of what happened.
‘Nothing happened when I got pulled over last night,’ the former defensive end 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‘My license was revoked because I forgot to complete the required class/test and I just moved, so I was planning to take care of both the class and the address change on Monday.
‘I wasn’t drinking, wasn’t smoking, and wasn’t doing anything wrong. Everything is fine.’
Griffen made headlines in 2021 when Minnesota police and mental health professionals rushed to his home after he posted a disturbing Instagram video of himself brandishing a handgun and later called 911 claiming an intruder was trying to kill him.
‘Yo, yo, yo,’ Griffen said while holding a handgun at the beginning of the 30-second clip. ‘I’m in my house. N****** trying to pop me. I still got clips left.
‘This is my gun, .45 Wilson Combat, registered to me,’ he said. ‘I bought all my bullets around town.’
In 2021, Griffen sparked fears when he posted a disturbing video of himself brandishing a gun
Griffen added that Vikings running back Dalvin Cook ‘helped me purchase this gun.’
‘It all belongs to me and they are registered to me, so I know exactly where I bought them. I got the card I have them on. I have everything.’
Shortly after 3am, Griffen called 911 to say there was an intruder at his home who was trying to kill him.
The Minnetrista Police Department released a statement at the time saying they were called to Griffen’s home after he phoned 911 around 3am on Wednesday, saying someone ‘was inside his home.’
‘Griffen also told the 911 dispatcher that he fired a weapon but nobody was injured,’ police said in the statement.
The intruder was never found, but therapists and police remained in contact with Griffen, who refused to leave his home.
‘Since approximately 7am, law enforcement and psychologists from the Minnesota Vikings have been in on-going communication with Griffen, who has refused to come out of his residence,’ the police statement continued.
‘At this time, law enforcement officers are confident Griffen is alone inside the home and continue to work with him to resolve the situation.’
The 6-foot-3, 273-pound defensive end, has three sons with his wife, Tiffany (left)
In response to Griffen’s Instagram video, the team rushed mental health workers to his home in Minnetrista to help officers resolve the situation peacefully.
It was eventually reported that Griffen’s hours-long standoff with police had ended peacefully.
He later shared an emotional statement with his Instagram followers, admitting that he had been diagnosed as bipolar.
Griffen has three sons with his wife, Tiffany. He has previously battled mental health issues and apologized in 2018 for a ‘nervous breakdown’ in which he allegedly threatened to shoot hotel staff and jump out of a moving ambulance.
