A former University of Maine football star from Westbrook who now plays for the NFL’s Detroit Lions was arrested early Saturday morning in New York, according to a report in the New York Post.
Trevor Bates was arrested on Saturday after he failed to pay a cab fare at approximately 3 a.m., according to the Post.
ESPN.com reported that while in custody at the 115th precinct station in Queens, Bates refused to be fingerprinted and then allegedly punched a police sergeant who was trying to calm him down in the eye.
Police told ESPN that the officer suffered a concussion and required three stitches to close a cut over his left eye.
The 25-year-old Bates later was taken to Elmhurst Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, according to police.
Bates, a 6-foot-2, 247-pound backup linebacker, appeared in nine games this season for the Lions, playing mostly on special teams.
“We are aware of the arrest of Trevor Bates earlier today in New York,” Lions general manager Bob Quinn said in a statement released by the team. “We have not spoken to Trevor as of yet and are still in the process of gathering more information. The Detroit Lions will have no further comment at this time.”
Bates’ agent, Jeff Jankovich, declined comment.
Bates was selected by Indianapolis in the seventh round (239th overall) of the 2016 NFL draft out of UMaine, where he earned All-Colonial Athletic Association first-team recognition at defensive end as a senior in 2015.
He was cut by the Colts in October 2016, but signed with the New England Patriots as a member of their practice squad and wound up earning a Super Bowl championship ring with the team in 2017.
Bates was released by the Patriots in September 2017 before he spent six weeks on the practice squad of the New York Giants. He was signed by Detroit in May 2018 and was later let go, but re-signed with the Lions on the practice squad last September before being activated to the roster in October.
Prior to his time in Detroit, Bates appeared in only one NFL game, that with the Colts in 2016.
Bates played in 46 games at UMaine and registered 207 tackles, including 35 tackles for a loss and 19 quarterback sacks. He also forced five fumbles, made three interceptions and recovered two fumbles. He returned a fumble and an interception for a touchdown.