Complaint: Le'Veon Bell Had No Idea He Could Get A DUI For Weed

WPXI in Pittsburgh has obtained and released part of the criminal complaint for Wednesday arrest of Steelers running backs Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount in Ross Township, outside of Pittsburgh. Yesterday, just before they played in a preseason game against the Eagles, the two were formally charged with marijuana possession and Bell, who was driving the car, was charged with DUI.

According to the complaint, a motorcycle cop pulled up alongside the black Camaro at a stop light and "could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle." The officer pulled the car over.

Bell immediately asked why I pulled him over. I explained to him that I detected a strong odor of marijuana in the vehicle. Bell told me that he did not have any marijauna in the vehicle. Bell's eyes were red and glassy and his pupils were dilated. I asked him if he, or any of his passengers smoked marijuana today and he replied, "It was about a minute ago." I asked him if he could define what he meant by that and he replied "We smoked within the last two hours."

More police, including a K9 unit arrived, and as police told Bell they were going to have the dog search the car, Bell volunteered that there was a bag of weed in the glove compartment. ( It was 20 grams' worth, or about three-quarters of an ounce.)

The complaint continues:

I informed Bell that because he was smoking marijuana, he could not operate a vehicle and could possibly be DUI. Bell replied, "I didn't know that you could get a DUI for being high. I smoked two hours ago. I am not high anymore. I am perfectly fine. Why would I be getting high if I had to get on a plane to make it to my game?" I asked him what game he was going to and he replied, "I have to be on my plane at three to be in Philadelphia, I play for the Steelers."

I administered field sobriety tests to Bell. Based on my observations of Bell, I believed that he was not able to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Police said that Bell, Blount, and a 21-year-old woman were "polite and cooperative" throughout the process.

Bell, whose processing took longer because of the DUI, missed the team flight and had to pay his own way to Philadelphia.

Bell and Blount received all 16 of the Steelers' carries last night, and coach Mike Tomlin said that was deliberate. He told reporters he " didn't consider it a punishment to send them home. I'd rather have them play more."

The complaint, from WPXI: