Former NFL Star Alonzo Spellman Arrested In Tulsa

Tulsa Police arrested former NFL player Alonzo Spellman Tuesday afternoon.  Police were called to a convenience store at 11th and Utica at 12:23 p.m. Tuesday.  Witnesses say Spellman was agitated and when police arrived, Spellman got into a vehicle and left the scene.  He took police on a short chase with top speeds reaching only 55 miles per hour. 

Tulsa Police used stop sticks, which took out three tires and Spellman stopped, however, he refused to get out of his car for about 20 minutes.  Officers shot pepper balls into the car and Spellman was taken into custody. 

Tulsa Police tell the News On 6, they expect to book him on traffic violations as well as a complaint of assault with a deadly weapon. 

Officers say Spellman tried to run a squad car off the road. 

This is the second time in two days; Spellman has had contact with Tulsa Police.  Police reports show on Monday at 8:15 p.m., Tulsa Police were called to a convenience store at 2300 West Edison, where Spellman was also acting strangely.  However, police say Spellman committed no crime and a relative arrived, calmed him down and took him home. 

Spellman lives in Tulsa and has long struggled with a bi-polar disorder. 

Spellman played for Ohio State, and then was a first round pick in the 1992 NFL draft for the Chicago Bears.  His erratic behavior ended his career; he had a standoff with Chicago Police and faced a weapons charge in Michigan before being picked up by the Dallas Cowboys. 

In 2002, he became belligerent on a Delta airlines flight.  He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.  Spellman was signed to an Arena Football League team for one season in 2006.