Police: No 'Special Treatment' in Redskins' Meriweather DUI Arrest

Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather was charged with driving under the influence this week after being stopped for speeding on Interstate 66, according to Arlington County police.

Shortly before 3 a.m. Thursday, an Arlington officer observed a Lincoln going 73 mph on I-66 westbound in the vicinity of North Ohio Street, police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said.

The posted speed limit for that area is 55 mph.

The officer pulled the vehicle over and smelled the strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver, who was later identified as Meriweather, Sternbeck said.

Meriweather refused to take a breath test and subsequently failed a field sobriety test, Sternbeck said.

The football player told the officer that he had been drinking at a nightclub in Washington, though he did not indicate the name of the club, how much he had to drink or where he was going, Sternbeck said.

Meriweather was arrested and taken to Arlington County jail. He was released later Thursday.

"This DUI was no different than any other DUI arrest or traffic stop initiated by our officers," Sternbeck said. "It was handled exactly the same from the initial stop to walking up to the vehicle to the identification process."

Sternbeck continued: "Even though he is a Washington Redskins athlete, that does not grant him special treatment. He was speeding while under the influence of alcohol, and he's got consequences he now must face."

A spokesman for the Redskins did not return a phone message or email inquiring if or how this charge would affect Meriweather's standing with the team.

Meriweather signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Redskins just last month, according to the Associated Press.