UFC star Jon Jones was arrested in New Mexico for alleged aggravated DWI and negligent use of a firearm early Thursday morning, according to a representative for the Albuquerque Police Department.
Jones, who was also charged with possession of an open container and no proof of insurance, was released from custody later Thursday morning, per online Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center records.
According to the criminal complaint, an Albuquerque PD officer responded to the sound of a single gunshot around 12:58 a.m. Thursday morning. The complaint stated that the officer saw a black Jeep with a man inside the vehicle in the driver’s seat — identified as Jones — and another person outside the vehicle by the passenger-side door.
The officer wrote that he saw an open bottle of alcohol behind the passenger seat and said that Jones said he did not know where the gunshot sound came from. Another officer was called, and after completion of a DWI investigation, Jones was placed under arrest, per the complaint.
The Jeep was towed from the scene. Upon a search, a handgun was found underneath the driver’s seat, along with a spent round outside the driver-side door. The complaint stated that the round matched the caliber of the gun.
Albuquerque PD director of communications Gilbert Gallegos said in a statement that Jones’ gun would be tested to see if it was used in any crimes.
“As part of the investigation into this incident, our Gun Violence Reduction Unit will test the firearm and bullet casing to determine whether the gun has been used in any crimes,” Gallegos said. “Reducing gun violence in Albuquerque is our top priority.”
Jones’ team declined comment. The UFC did not immediately return a request for comment.
Jones, 32, is the UFC’s longtime light heavyweight champion, first winning the title in 2011. He is considered one of the greatest pound-for-pound MMA fighters of all time, though he has had his share of trouble outside of the cage, including multiple arrests and two failed drug tests.
Jones (26-1, 1 NC) lives and trains in Albuquerque.
This would be Jones’ second DWI. He was charged with the crime in 2012 in his home state of New York. In 2015, Jones was convicted on a felony hit-and-run charge. He was on probation until 2018.