Cowboys' Ratliff arrested, charged with DWI

Published Jan. 22, 2013 9:16 p.m. ET

foxsports

Dallas Cowboys veteran Jay Ratliff was arrested early Tuesday morning and charged with driving while intoxicated after allegedly crashing his truck into an 18-wheeler on the highway, police have confirmed.

Grapevine Police spokesman officer Sam Shemwell told Fox Sports Southwest that Ratliff, 31, was arrested at 12:36 a.m. by Grapevine Police and charged with DWI after crashing his 2011 Ford F-150 on 2800 East State Hwy 114.

"Mr. Ratliff refused a breathalyzer, so officers obtained a search warrant and then a blood sample and Mr. Ratliff was arrested,'' Shemwell said, adding that the results of the blood test are not yet known.

Shemwell said no one was injured in the accident.

Attempts were made to contact both the Cowboys and Ratliff’s agent seeking comment, but neither party has replied nor issued any statement.

Ratliff, a four-time Pro Bowler at nose tackle, bonded out of jail at about 10 a.m. according to Shemwell. He is the second Cowboys player arrested and charged with a drinking-related offense in little more than six weeks. Josh Brent — also a nose tackle and a friend of Ratliff — was charged with intoxication manslaughter after a Dec. 8 one-car crash which killed Cowboys practice-squad player Jerry Brown.

The Cowboys have a 24-hour car service for players, primarily to avoid them getting behind the wheel after drinking. It is not known whether Ratliff attempted to utilize this service prior to his crash Tuesday morning.

Ratliff, counted on by the Cowboys at his position in part due to his talent and also because Brent now faces possible jail time, had his season cut short by hernia surgery after only six games. He also was involved in a late-season verbal conflict with team owner Jerry Jones in the Cowboys Stadium locker room.