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Former Raven Jermaine Lewis Charged In Crash

REISTERSTOWN, Md. (WJZ) -- He was a member of the Ravens' Super Bowl winning team and police say it took a Taser to arrest him for a hit-and-run accident.

Derek Valcourt has more on the arrest and why police had to use force to bring him in.

Police say the former football player was driving recklessly on a suspended and revoked license.  It took a Taser to tackle him.

As a Raven, Jermaine Lewis was known for weaving in and out of defenders, but police say Monday night, he was weaving in and out of traffic.  Callers to 911 reported Lewis' car driving erratically along Reisterstown Road near Glyndon Drive.  He headed north on Hanover Pike where police say his car crashed into a sign which pointed to a volunteer fire department and Mason Dixon Bingo.  After the crash, he continued driving home. 

When officers went to his house, they found him lying on the couch with his shorts halfway down to his knees, reportedly smelling of alcohol.  According to court documents, he told the officer, "I hit a sign; I ain't hurt no one.  I'm in my house."

"As officers placed Mr. Lewis under arrest, he did not comply with the officer's commands to stand up and allow the officer to place him under arrest.  A Taser was deployed," said Det. Cathy Batton, Baltimore County Police.

The 36-year-old now faces a slew of criminal charges, including resisting arrest.

The damaged sign is a minor inconvenience to the folks at the volunteer fire company, who say Lewis has helped support their fundraisers in the past.  Managers of Mason Dixon Bingo are surprised a former Raven is to blame for ruining the sign that helped bingo customers find their way to the fire hall.

Even though he reportedly smelled of alcohol, Lewis was not charged with drunk driving.  Since he was arrested in his house, police say they wouldn't be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was drunk behind the wheel. 

In a phone call Tuesday night, Lewis' wife said she wants the public and media to respect the family's privacy.

Bail for Jermaine Lewis was set at $50,000.

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