Steelers rookie arrested for DUI
Ex-Husky Ta’amu faces several charges
PITTSBURGH – A Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive lineman was arrested early Sunday on charges of leading police on a chase while driving drunk and crashing into parked cars, injuring a woman, authorities said.
Alameda Ta’amu, 22, who played for the Washington Huskies, was driving a sport utility vehicle the wrong way on Pittsburgh’s South Side at about 2:30 a.m., police said. The 6-foot-3, 348-pound Ta’amu fled officers and crashed into four parked cars, injuring a woman, then tried to flee on foot before he was restrained by four officers and arrested, police said.
Charges against him include felony fleeing police, aggravated assault and aggravated assault by vehicle, as well as misdemeanor accident causing damage, resisting arrest, escape and DUI charges, along with summary counts, according to court records.
“We are disappointed to hear about the situation regarding Alameda Ta’amu,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement. “We will gather more facts before providing any further comment.”
Police said in the criminal complaint that the defendant’s breath smelled of alcohol and a breath test indicated a blood-alcohol content of .196 percent, more than twice the legal limit of .08 percent.
Ta’amu was drafted in the fourth round out of Washington. He has yet to play this season.