Arizona Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter was arrested outside a Taco Bell this morning after officials say Porter put his hands on a cop.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Joey was driving in a Taco Bell parking lot in Bakersfield -- his home town -- when a friend of Joey's was was stopped by police.

According to officials, Porter pulled up near the action - too close apparently -- because a CHP officer rolled over to his car, where he detected the smell of alcohol coming from Porter's car.

Cops say the officer asked for Porter's driver's license, but he refused to hand it over. ... instead, officials say, the 33-year-old tried to roll up his window.

Cops say the officer tried to reach in the car to manually unlock the car -- and that's when Porter "slapped" the officer's hand away.

According to the CHP, the officer decided to grab Porter's arm -- and that's when things got crazy. Porter allegedly got out of his car "in a confrontational manner."

The officer claims he drew his pistol and ordered Porter to the ground, but he wouldn't comply -- though he did ultimately agree to place his hands behind his head.

Additional officers were called to the scene to aid in the arrest. Porter was eventually taken in to custody and booked at a nearby jail. He was eventually charged with 3 misdemeanors -- DUI, resisting arrest and assault on a peace officer.

Porter recently signed a big fat contract with the Cardinals -- reportedly worth $17.5 million for 3 years.

Story developing ...

:)

So glad he's gone.

Not sure a gun being pulled was all that warranted.

I wouldn't call JP's behavior model, but I question the cops here in their zeal to pull a gun.

Not sure a gun being pulled was all that warranted.

I wouldn't call JP's behavior model, but I question the cops here in their zeal to pull a gun.

I can't stand these overreactive officers that blow everything out of proportion so they can trump up more serious charges.

Sgt. Reyka worked as one of three sergeants on the overnight shift (10:00pm-6:00am) and frequently went on road patrol to conduct proactive law enforcement. On August 10, 2007 at approximately 1:30am, Reyka logged a stolen tag on a suspicious car he spotted in the Walgreen's parking lot on the west side of Pompano Beach;[2] soon afterwards residents called in a report of a shooting in that area, and said that a deputy was crouched next to his car. When deputies arrived they found Reyka shot multiple times and near death on the ground outside of his car. Sgt. Reyka was transported to the North Broward Medical Center in Deerfield Beach, Florida where he succumbed to his wounds.

According to detectives of BSO, Sgt. Reyka pulled into parking lot and checked the license plate of a suspicious car. An occupant of the car presumably exited and fired ten rounds at Sgt. Reyka, striking him in multiple places not protected by his bullet resistant vest. A security camera caught a white sedan leaving the area,[3] but it was not found. As of September 2009 his murder remains unsolved,

Not sure a gun being pulled was all that warranted.

I wouldn't call JP's behavior model, but I question the cops here in their zeal to pull a gun.

These threads about players getting into trouble are ridiculous already. They start out with the quote from the local media or the arresting officer & turn into a debate among us about whether the police over stepped their authority or not.
I still say for the most part we are behind Ronnie because he is a Dolphin & we could care less about Joey because he is no longer. But its more than that.
The point missing here is that these guys are getting paid millions to play a kids game & being handed a job that will set them up for life before they turn 35 years old ... & they dont friggin appreciate it!!
The stupidity of these guys , no matter who they play for will never cease to amaze me.
Everyone is presumed innocent & we should not pass judgement before we know the facts but there is a theme here. These guys think they are above the law & can get away with things that you or I cannot ... & for the most part they are right! Until that changes their behavior will not.

These threads about players getting into trouble are ridiculous already. They start out with the quote from the local media or the arresting officer & turn into a debate among us about whether the police over stepped their authority or not.
I still say for the most part we are behind Ronnie because he is a Dolphin & we could care less about Joey because he is no longer. But its more than that.
The point missing here is that these guys are getting paid millions to play a kids game & being handed a job that will set them up for life before they turn 35 years old ... & they dont friggin appreciate it!!
The stupidity of these guys , no matter who they play for will never cease to amaze me.
Everyone is presumed innocent & we should not pass judgement before we know the facts but there is a theme here. These guys think they are above the law & can get away with things that you or I cannot ... & for the most part they are right! Until that changes their behavior will not.

If JP were still a Dolphin, we'd have all kinds of people on this thread defending him. Too me it sounds like the cop overreacted, but who knows, I wasn't there. Irregardless, I agree with others, he shouldn't have been there in the first place and he should have complied immediately to the cop's requests. Better to play it safe than piss off an underpaid guy with a power trip. (and yes I know most cops are probably good guys)

"Assaulting a cop"? You kidding me? He brushes his hand away and that's assault? I can't stand these overreactive officers that blow everything out of proportion so they can trump up more serious charges. If he punched him that would be assault. I can see impeding an investigation, or failure to comply, but assault? Gimme a break.