Adrian Peterson's DWI Case: Motion to Suppress Evidence Filed Days Before Trial
The former NFL star's attorney argues police conducted an unlawful 'fishing expedition' during his arrest.
Former NFL running back Adrian Peterson is seeking to have key evidence suppressed in his driving while intoxicated case, just days before it was scheduled to go to trial. A motion filed by his attorney, Larry P. McDougal Jr., on Oct. 2 alleges that officers with the Sugar Land Police Department violated Peterson's constitutional and statutory rights during his arrest in October 2025.
According to court records, the motion contends that while officers initiated contact with Peterson as part of a welfare check after finding him asleep at the wheel of a vehicle at a gas station, they unlawfully prolonged the investigation. McDougal argued that once Peterson denied needing medical assistance, the officers lacked reasonable suspicion to continue investigating him for impaired driving, characterizing the subsequent actions as a "fishing expedition."
The attorney asserts that because Peterson was taken into custody without a warrant, probable cause, or other lawful authority, any statements he made, along with blood tests and toxicology reports, should be excluded from the trial.
Peterson, 41, faces charges of driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or higher, and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Court documents indicate that Peterson admitted to consuming "two to three shots" of vodka earlier in the evening. The probable cause affidavit also stated that officers observed signs of intoxication, including the smell of alcohol, slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes. A firearm was reportedly found in the vehicle's glove compartment.
This is the second DWI accusation against Peterson within a year. He last played in an NFL regular season game in 2021. His career included stints with the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, and Washington Commanders, among other teams.
A hearing on the motion to suppress evidence is scheduled for Oct. 13, the same day the jury trial was slated to begin. A message seeking comment from McDougal was not immediately returned.