UFC's Jon Jones arrested for alleged DWI, negligent use of firearm

UFC star Jon Jones was arrested in New Mexico for alleged aggravated DWI and negligent use of a firearm early Thursday morning, according to a representative for the Albuquerque Police Department.

Jones, who was also charged with possession of an open container and no proof of insurance, was released from custody later Thursday morning, according to Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center online records.

Jones tested "at or above twice the legal limit" when he was administered a breathalyzer test after he was arrested, the criminal complaint said.

According to the criminal complaint, an Albuquerque police officer responded to the sound of a single gunshot around 12:58 a.m. Thursday. The complaint stated that the officer saw a black Jeep with a man inside the vehicle in the driver's seat -- identified as Jones -- and another person outside the vehicle by the passenger-side door.

The officer wrote that he saw an open bottle of alcohol behind the passenger seat and said that Jones said he did not know where the gunshot sound came from. Another officer was called, and after completion of a DWI investigation, Jones was placed under arrest, per the complaint.

The criminal complaint said Jones had "blood shot watery eyes" and "a strong odor of alcohol coming from his facial region" and that he admitted to driving earlier and had the intention of driving again. Jones did field sobriety tests and "performed poorly on all three of them," according to the criminal complaint.

The arrest video from Johnson's lapel camera was obtained by ESPN on Friday from the Bernalillo County District Attorney's office. Jones said he had been drinking vodka and told the officer that he was "stir crazy" being indoors and that this was his first drive in two weeks. Jones said he was pulled over after "being nice" to homeless people.

"I saw these homeless guys, I was being nice to them," Jones said. "Having a conversation with them, treating them like humans."

Jones was administered three field sobriety tests. At the conclusion of them, Johnson said he had to arrest Jones for DWI. When he was cuffed, Jones said he had bad anxiety, and he became emotional as he was loaded into the backseat of the police car.

The Jeep was towed from the scene. Upon a search, a handgun was found underneath the driver's seat, along with a spent round outside the driver-side door. The complaint stated that the round matched the caliber of the gun.

Albuquerque police director of communications Gilbert Gallegos said in a statement that Jones' gun would be tested to determine whether it was used in any crimes.

"As part of the investigation into this incident, our Gun Violence Reduction Unit will test the firearm and bullet casing to determine whether the gun has been used in any crimes," Gallegos said. "Reducing gun violence in Albuquerque is our top priority."

Jones' team declined to comment.

UFC issued a statement saying it was aware of the situation and has been "in contact with Jones' management team and is currently gathering additional information."

Jones, 32, is scheduled for a bond arraignment hearing April 8, according to Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office spokesperson Michael Patrick.

In New Mexico, aggravated DWI carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and one year of probation, plus a mandatory penalty of 48 hours in jail. The maximum penalty for negligent use of a deadly weapon is six months in jail. The maximum penalty for no proof of insurance is 90 days in jail.

Jones was on probation for a disorderly conduct charge stemming from an April 2019 strip-club incident, but that ended on Jan. 8, Patrick said.

"Prosecutors are working with local law enforcement and will get the lapel video and other available discovery evidence from the arresting officer within the next 48 hours," Patrick said, regarding the current DWI case.

Jones is the UFC's longtime light heavyweight champion, first winning the title in 2011. He is considered one of the greatest pound-for-pound MMA fighters of all time, though he has had his share of trouble outside of the cage, including multiple arrests and two failed drug tests.

Jones (26-1, 1 NC) lives and trains in Albuquerque.

This would be Jones' second DWI. He was charged with the crime in 2012 in his home state of New York. In 2015, Jones was convicted on a felony hit-and-run charge. He was on probation until 2018.

He also pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct last October after initially being charged with battery last July for slapping a strip-club cocktail waitress in the genital region, pulling her down into his lap and kissing her neck, per the criminal summons.