Suspended NFL Player Tracy Walker Arrested in Las Vegas for Alleged DUI

The former Detroit Lions player Tracy Walker III, 30, was arrested early Monday, October 20, in Las Vegas, and is now facing a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence (DUI). The player is currently serving a league suspension for 12 games.

Walker Was Arrested for an Alleged DUI in Vegas

According to the records, Walker was pulled over around 2 am on Monday near Decatur Boulevard and Harmon Avenue in Spring Valley, Las Vegas, for allegedly speeding. According to the police report, after issuing a citation, the arresting officer returned to the vehicle and found Walker asleep at the wheel. 

Officers had to call Walker’s name multiple times before he woke up. When he complied with an order to exit the vehicle, officers noticed him “swaying back and forth” while walking and detected a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Walker admitted having patronized a hookah lounge earlier that evening, the arresting officer wrote, but declined to submit to a voluntary blood test. 

This prompted the officer to obtain a warrant for the collection of two blood samples. Walker, who provided a Michigan home address during booking, was processed at the Clark County Detention Center and released without posting bond. It should be noted that this is a standard procedure for non-violent misdemeanors in Nevada. As of Tuesday, formal charges had yet to be filed, although this is a common delay in DUI cases where authorities must await toxicology results. However, this is a process that can take several weeks.

What Potential Penalties Could Walker Face

Walker, currently a free agent, last appeared in the NFL with the Detroit Lions during the 2023 season. Despite signing with the San Francisco 49ers on August 5, 2024, Walker was released just three weeks later without playing a game. He was suspended for the first 12 games of the 2025 season. The league’s transaction wire did not specify a reason for the suspension, which it has to be noted, is an uncommon omission that has sparked speculation among fans and analysts.

Even if a team were to sign him despite the recent DUI arrest, Walker would remain ineligible to play until late November 2025, significantly reducing his value on the market at age 30. If convicted of the misdemeanor DUI, which appears to be his first offense based on public records, Walker could face several penalties. These include up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, mandatory DUI education, community service, a 185-day license suspension, and installation of an ignition interlock device.

Walker has not commented publicly on the arrest at the time of writing of this article.