As first reported by Comcast SportsNet, 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald was arrested in San Mateo County on Saturday night for suspicion of driving under the influence. A representative of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office told Comcast that McDonald was booked at San Mateo County Jail at 7:57 p.m Saturday and released at 9:39 p.m.
McDonald issued a short statement directly to reporters after practice, addressing what he called “the incident Saturday night.”
“I would inform you but I can’t, because I’ve been advised by my lawyer, because it is a legal situation, I can’t say too much,” McDonald said. “But I just want to let you all know that whenever it works itself out, you will know everything that’s going on. And I just want to apologize for making this a distraction, because that’s not my intent. My intent is to just come out here and work hard and try to win ballgames this year. I just don’t want this to be a distraction the fans, my family, my teammates.”
Asked as he walked away if this was his first run-in with the law, the D-lineman nodded yes. If he has other black marks in the NFL’s substance abuse program, McDonald could be facing a suspension. If this is indeed his first transgression, he is likely to get nothing more than a warning from the league.
