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Weehawken, N.J. – A new Giants backup quarterback was arrested on his way to practice on Tuesday morning after he evaded police and almost ran over a police officer.
The Weehawken Police Department released a statement on Tuesday that said officers had arrested National Football League (NFL) quarterback Kyle Lauletta on reckless driving charges.
Police said Lauletta had been “operating his 2017 Jaguar in a dangerous manner in heavy traffic near the Pleasant Avenue approach to Route 495.”
He was directed by a police officer to continue in a marked lane, but Lauletta tried to evade him and made an illegal turn and almost hit the officer in the process, according to the police statement.
The football player was stopped by another officer but refused to cooperate.
Lauletta refused to produce his driver’s license or get out of his car, police said.
Weehawken PD said officers arrested Lauletta for reckless driving, disregarding an officer’s directions, improper turn in marked traffic lane, failure to remain in marked lane, eluding police, obstructing administration of law, and resisting arrest.
Police also said that Lauletta was involved in a similar incident at the same location on Monday.
However, on that occasion, Lauletta didn’t stop and so was issued a ticket through the mail.
Lauletta’s actions on both occasions created severe traffic jams, according to police.
His NFL team’s officials said they were aware of the backup quarterback’s arrest.
“We were made aware of the situation this morning, and we have been in contact with Kyle,” New York Giants Coach Pat Shurmur told ESPN. “We are still in the process of gathering information. This is obviously very disappointing.”
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Giants rookie running back Saquon Barkley said he was surprised by Lauletta’s arrest, and that what he’d heard didn’t match up with the teammate he knows.
“I know Kyle really well and it was definitely shocking. I don’t know too much about it to speak on it, to be honest, but I know it’s really nothing probably,” Barkley said. “I know it sounds crazy, but I know it’s probably nothing crazy because of the person he is.”
Lauletta was not at practice on Tuesday.
The backup quarterback was the Giants’ fourth-round pick this year, out of Richmond, and signed a four-year, $3.2 million contract with the NFL team.
He has not played in a game yet this year.