Chicago Bears wide receiver Byron Pringle was arrested Saturday in Florida and charged with reckless driving and driving while his license was suspended, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report.
Pringle was stopped in Wesley Chapel, Fla., north of Tampa, after an officer observed a cloud of smoke, the smell of burnt rubber and tire marks on the roadway “consistent with a vehicle performing ‘a donut,’” according to the arrest report.
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The officer pulled over Pringle, who was driving an orange 2016 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat with an adult passenger in the front seat and a juvenile in the back. A check on Pringle’s license revealed it was suspended in February for “financial responsibility,” the report said.
According to the report, Pringle ignored verbal commands to exit the vehicle and “then became verbally confrontational” before he was arrested at approximately 6:15 p.m. He was transported to the Pasco County Jail “without further incident.” Both charges are misdemeanors.
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TMZ first reported the news of Pringle’s arrest.
The Bears in March signed Pringle to a one-year, $6 million contract with $4 million guaranteed. He was at Halas Hall last week for voluntary minicamp with new coach Matt Eberflus.
He spent his first four years with the Kansas City Chiefs when new Bears general manager Ryan Poles was there. Pringle played in 46 games over three seasons, with 67 catches for 898 yards and seven touchdowns.
A Bears spokesman said the team was aware of the arrest but didn’t have further comment.
