Robert Mathis’s Blood-Alcohol Content Was Below Legal Limit at Time of Drunk Driving Arrest

Robert Mathis was arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of drunk driving.

Longtime Colts pass rusher Robert Mathis was arrested early Tuesday morning in suburban Indianapolis on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, according to the Indianapolis Star. 

Mathis, who is now an assistant coach with the team, was arrested just after midnight in the town of Carmel. The 36-year-old was taken to the Hamilton County jail, where online records show he was released some time before 9:30 a.m. ET. 

A breathalyzer test pegged Mathis’s blood-alcohol level at 0.052%—under the legal limit of 0.08%—but he was driving the wrong way down a one-way street, Carmel police told the Star. Indiana law allows officers to arrest a driver even if their blood-alcohol level is not above the legal limit, given certain circumstances. 

Mathis played 13 years for the Colts, leading the league with 19.5 sacks in 2013. He retired after the 2016 season and was hired last month as a pass rush consultant. 

“We are aware of the incident involving Robert Mathis last night,” the team said in a statement to ESPN. “We are in the process of gathering more information and have no further comment at this time.”