Bernard Pierce Released By Baltimore Ravens After DUI Arrest

The Baltimore Ravens released running back Bernard Pierce on March 18 following his DUI arrest early Wednesday morning.

The Baltimore Ravens have released running back Bernard Pierce.

According to a March 18 update from WBAL NewsRadio 1090, police arrested Pierce in Baltimore County after he was caught speeding in Towson early Wednesday morning. The Ravens cut him later that day. 

A team source told The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson that Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome informed Pierce of his release. 

Authorities say Pierce was driving 55 mph in a 30-mph zone “along Dulaney Valley Road, then failed a sobriety test,” per the WBAL NewsRadio 1090 article. ESPN Balitmore Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley says Pierce “is charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol, exceeding maximum speed and driving a vehicle in excess of reasonable and prudent speed on a highway.” 

The Ravens have released Bernard Pierce after his reported arrest for a DUI early Wednesday morning.

FULL STORY: http://t.co/JBAH7exlsg— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) March 18, 2015

The incident happened at 2 o’clock in the morning. A responding officer on the scene suspected Pierce was intoxicated. Pierce confessed to having two drinks before the officer asked him to step out of his car and take field sobriety tests. The WBAL NewsRadio 1090 update says the policeman arrested Pierce after he failed the sobriety tests and took him to Towson precinct for processing.

“We have three standard sobriety tests: a horizontal gaze and stagmus test, a walk and turn test and a balancing test and he failed all three,” Baltimore County Police Cpl. John Wachter told CBS Baltimore’s Meghan McCorkell on Wednesday. 

Charging documents obtained by WBAL NewsRadio 1090 reveal Pierce had a conversation with the arresting officer about his future with the Ravens on their way to the precinct. “Do you know what happened the last time a Ravens player got a DUI?” Pierce said. “I’m getting cut tomorrow, not like you care.”

McCorkell says Pierce was referring to Victor Hampton, who the Ravens released in early March for his DUI arrest in North Carolina. Earlier this year, Baltimore also let go of nose tackle Terrance Cody for animal abuse charges. 

Pierce also asked authorities if “the incident could be kept off the books,” per Hensley. While detained, Pierce passed out on a metal bench. After a policeman woke him up to ask him about his weight, the 230-pound Pierce said in slurred speech,”530.”  

Quote from Bernard Pierce to arresting officer in DUI case. Thinks he’s getting cut. #Ravens pic.twitter.com/evtxLMvhL3— Lowell Melser (@MelserWBAL) March 18, 2015

Police eventually released Pierce without an appearance before a magistrate. The WBAL NewsRadio 1090 report says county authorities allow a responsible party to take custody of first-time offenders.

Ravens senior vice president of public and community relations Kevin Byrne confirmed the perpetrator is Pierce. Byrne told WBAL NewsRadio 1090 the Ravens “take the matter seriously.” 

Wilson says the Ravens will now remove Pierce’s non-guaranteed base salary of $660,000 for the 2015 NFL season. Pierce was about to enter the last year of his four-year, $2.66 million rookie deal. 

Back in November, Pierce filed a police report about a break-in in his house, per Wilson. The Baltimore County Police Department said a handgun, jewelry and other personal items were stolen while Pierce attended the Ravens’ annual Purple Evening event at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 13. 

Pierce shot down rumors in the aftermath of that incident that he was kidnapped or held hostage, per Wilson. Pierce was a carjacking victim at gunpoint when thieves stole his BMW SUV in his hometown of Philadelphia in June 2013.

Pierce was supposed to take over the dismissed Ray Rice’s place in the Ravens’ running back rotation at the beginning of the 2014 NFL season. However, injuries and a dip in productivity put him fourth in the rotation behind Justin Forsett, Lorenzo Taliaferro and Fitzgerald Toussaint, per Hensley. 

Pierce ends his Ravens career with 1,334 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 353 carries, per ESPN stats. 

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