Arkansas QB Mallett Arrested, Charged With Public Intoxication (UPDATED)

Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with public intoxication.

Mallett, 20, was arrested outside the Dickson Street Theater at 12:56 a.m. He was released on bond at 4:37 a.m. after being charged with the class C misdemeanor.

Club security alerted police after an underage white male believed to be Mallett was attempting to enter the establishment. Police officers patrolling Dickson Street on foot approached Mallett, who they thought “appeared to be already intoxicated.”

Officers observed Mallett “visibly swaying” when attempting to walk. Mallett, according to the arrest report, smelled of a “heavy odor of intoxicants” and his eyes appeared to be “watery and bloodshot.”

The “faint odor of burnt marijuana coming from Mallett” was also detected by officers. When asked if he had been been smoking marijuana, Mallett denied he had, but later admitted to being around people who had.

A horizontal gaze nystagnus test — commonly known as a “pen test” — was administered. It was determined at that point that Mallett was intoxicated.

Mallett, according to the report, was given an opportunity to call for a ride home, but struggled to do so. He was unable to reach anyone and “appeared to lose focus on making phone calls to get a ride and would begin staring off into the distance.”

It was at that point Mallett was placed under arrest for public intoxication. Mallett faces a fine no greater than $100 and if given jail time could be stentenced to no more than 30 days.

Mallett transferred from Michigan in 2008. He sat out last season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules and is presumed to be the top candidate for quarterback when spring practice opens March 24.

While at Michigan, Mallett appeared in 11 games as freshman at Michigan and started three, completing 61 of 141 passes for 892 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions.

Coach Bobby Petrino released a statement through media relations.

“I am very disappointed that Ryan Mallett put himself in a situation that doesn’t reflect positively on him or on our program,” Petrino said. “All members of the Razorback Football team have a responsibility to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner on and off the field. While the legal process has not yet taken its course in this matter, Ryan will face internal team disciplinary action for not representing the Razorbacks in a way that is required of our student-athletes.”