Former Colts QB Jack Trudeau arrested on suspicion of OWI, intimidation

Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jack Trudeau was arrested late Sunday in Zionsville on suspicion of drunken driving and intimidating a police officer.

A Zionsville police officer arrested Trudeau, 52, on preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated, public intoxication and intimidation of a police officer, Boone County Jail records show.

Trudeau threatened to kill an officer during a profanity-laced rant, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Trudeau gave a "poor sample" on a portable breath test, which registered a 0.31 blood-alcohol content, the affidavit said. A person with a BAC of 0.08 is considered intoxicated under Indiana law.

Trudeau was booked into the Boone County Jail early Monday.

A police officer stopped Trudeau's car near South Michigan Road and Clarkston Road on a traffic violation, Zionsville Police Capt. Bob Musgraves said.

When officers requested Trudeau's driver's license, he first handed police his credit card, an incident report states. Then, during a field sobriety test, Trudeau struggled to focus, and officers had to stop the test for fear he might fall and hurt himself.

Trudeau refused to consent to a chemical test after his inadequate breath test and was transported to an area emergency room for a blood draw, according to the report.

As an officer drove Trudeau to the ER, the report states, the former Colt began using profanity and told the officer if he didn't take him out of handcuffs he was "going to kill (him)."

When the officer approached the emergency facility, the report states, Trudeau became even more verbally abusive and began to kick and move around violently.

After refusing the blood draw, Trudeau was transported to the Boone County Jail. En route to the jail, Trudeau again told the officer he would hurt him, saying he was "going to light (him) up." The report also said Trudeau told the officer that he was a celebrity and had powerful friends and attorneys.

The case was assigned to Boone Superior Court Judge Bruce Petit. Petit's staff said Trudeau is expected to appear in court Tuesday for an initial hearing.

The arrest is Trudeau's second for drunken driving. In 1990, police pulled Trudeau over in Hamilton County. He pleaded guilty to operating while intoxicated after he recorded a 0.19 blood-alcohol content.

Boone County sheriff's deputies arrested Trudeau in 2007 on suspicion of supplying alcohol to minors for a graduation party in his Zionsville home.

Deputies were called to the Trudeau home for a loud party and found dozens of teenagers attending a Park Tudor High School graduation party there, police said at the time.

Trudeau pleaded guilty later that year to aiding a minor to possess alcohol, a class C infraction. A judge fined him $2,500.

Trudeau was arrested in 1987 on allegations of striking a police officer during a Downtown bar fight that was later called the "Friday the 13th Brawl."

The former University of Illinois quarterback came to the Indianapolis Colts as a second-round draft pick in April 1986.

Call Star reporter Madeline Buckley at (317) 444-6083. Follow her on Twitter: @Mabuckley88.