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Rams player suspected of DUI after he crashes into bus stop sign, mailboxes, trash cans

by in News
The Los Angeles Rams’ Jamil Derby, left, battles with Aaron Neary during drills during the Rams’ first practice for their 2018 training camp at UC Irvine on July 26, 2018. Neary was arrested Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Simi Valley on suspicion of DUI. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Rams practice squad center Aaron Neary was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Ventura County after crashing his vehicle into a bus stop sign, mailboxes and trash cans in a Simi Valley neighborhood, authorities said Monday.

The incident was reported at 6:27 p.m. Sunday in the area of Royal Avenue and Sinaloa Road, the Simi Valley Police Department reported.

Police received multiple phone calls regarding someone possibly driving under the influence, police said. He was driving erratically and crashed into several fixed objects, not stopping after the crashes.

Officers located the vehicle on El Monte Drive near El Lado Drive and conducted a traffic stop, police said.

The driver, identified as Neary, a Simi Valley resident, provided a breath sample that was .17 percent, more than double the legal limit, police said.

Neary was booked into the Ventura County sheriff’s East County Jail on suspicion of DUI, DUI with a blood alcohol level over .08 percent and hit-and-run with property damage, police said. Neary was released from jail on Sunday night, a spokesperson for the jail said Tuesday morning.

Charges have not yet been filed, but a preliminary court date of No. 15 has been set.

Neary returned to the Rams on Tuesday, when he was signed to their practice squad, five days after being cut by the Cleveland Browns.

Neary — who played college football at Eastern Washington — played his only regular-season game on Dec. 31, starting at center in place of John Sullivan, who like many of the other starters, was given the final regular-season game off.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 301-pound Neary spent the 2016 season on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad. He was waived in the cut to reduce the roster to the 53-player regular-season limit on Sept. 2, 2017.

The Rams claimed Neary on waivers on Sept. 3, 2017, waived him on Sept. 16, 2017 and re-signed him to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on Dec. 27.

Neary was waived by the Rams Aug. 31, one day before the cut to reduce the roster to the regular-season limit.

Neary was claimed by the Browns on waivers Sept. 2 and waived four days later.

Rams officials were not available for comment.