MINNEAPOLIS — Former Vikings star Carl Eller was convicted Monday of assaulting a police officer who tried to arrest him after he swerved and nearly struck a squad car last April.
Hennepin County District Judge Dan Mabley ruled Eller was guilty of fourth-degree assault of an officer and second-degree refusing to submit to a field sobriety test.
Eller, 67, faces up to a year on each count when he is sentenced Feb. 23. County lawyer Mike Freeman said any jail sentence would be served in a workhouse, not prison.
“I am just totally disappointed. Really disappointed in the system, and the way I’ve been treated,” Eller said.
In a pending federal lawsuit, Eller claims officers violated his civil rights, used excessive force and concealed videotape evidence of his arrest.
Eller was arrested April 9 after police said they saw his Mercedes sport utility vehicle swerve and speed through a stop sign and narrowly miss a squad car. They gave chase and eventually attempted to arrest Eller in his garage, where they said he punched one officer and threw another onto the hood of his SUV. Efforts to subdue Eller with a Taser didn’t work, according to a criminal complaint.
• The widow of Vikings lineman Korey Stringer reached a settlement with the NFL over his heatstroke death during training camp in 2001.
Under an agreement with Kelci Stringer, the NFL will support her efforts to create a heat illness prevention program. No other terms of the settlement were released.
Korey Stringer was a 27- year-old, 335-pound offensive lineman. He died from heatstroke July 31, 2001.
Footnotes.
The Ravens promoted Greg Mattison from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator.
• The Panthers hired Ron Meeks to replace Mike Trgovac as defensive coordinator. Meeks spent the past seven seasons running the Colts’ defensive unit.
• The Rams hired three coaches, including Dick Curl (assistant head coach/quarterbacks), Paul Ferraro (defensive assistant) and Frank Leonard (offensive assistant).
• Former Houston Oilers lineman Jerry Fowler died of complications from undisclosed surgery in Baton Rouge, La. He was 68.
The Associated Press
