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Alfonzo Dennard arrested in Nebraska on suspicion of DUI

Patriots defensive back Alfonso Dennard was arrested Thursday in Nebraska on suspicion of DUI. (Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images)

Patriots defensive back Alfonso Dennard was arrested Thursday in Nebraska on suspicion of DUI. (Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images)

New England Patriots defensive back Alfonzo Dennard was arrested early Thursday morning in Nebraska for allegedly driving drunk, according to a report from the Omaha World-Herald, and now becomes the 30th active NFL player to be arrested since the Super Bowl.

Lincoln police spotted a Honda straddling the lane on Normal Boulevard at approximately 2:00 a.m. when they decided to pull over the vehicle. Dennard, a former standout at Nebraska, was driving the car and no one else was inside when officers approached. He refused any tests on the spot and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of DUI. The 23-year-old was taken to a detox center but Lincoln police Captain Jason Stille said he's unsure whether Dennard is still in custody.

The Patriots issued a statement following the arrest, calling the news "extremely disappointing."

https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/355348425790861313

https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/355348476294467586

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The incident Thursday morning is the second time the former Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year has been taken into custody by Nebraska authorities. In 2012, he punched an officer investigating a fight at a downtown Lincoln bar and was charged with one count of assaulting a police officer. Dennard was sentenced to 30 days in jail, two years of probation and 100 hours of law enforcement-related community service. His jail time was delayed by Lancaster County Court Judge Stephanie Stacy until March 2014, however, so that it wouldn't interfere with his NFL season, according to the report.

As a result of the incident last year, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini and University of Nebraska Regent Tim Clare each wrote a "character letter" on behalf of Dennard. The seventh-round pick by the Patriots in 2012 was expected to start across from Aqib Talib this season.

The news of his arrest on Thursday morning comes weeks after former Patriots tight-end Aaron Hernandez was arrested for first-degree murder.

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