MIAMI – Mark Walton, a University of Miami running back, was suspended Saturday afternoon after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license earlier in the day.
Walton, 19, sprinted to a waiting car after he was released from jail Saturday night on bond.
"Initially, officers were there working another case and that is when they observed that this man was driving under the influence," Miami police spokeswoman Kenia Fallat said.
Walton had alcohol on his breath, bloodshot eyes and was slurring his speech when officers approached his vehicle in the 3000 block of 27th Terrace about 3:50 a.m., an arrest report said.
Police gave Walton a sobriety test, which he failed, the report said, and he was taken to a police station, where he performed a breath test.
Walton's blood alcohol concentration was between 0.059 percent and 0.060 percent, police said.
A blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 percent or above is considered the legal limit in Florida for drivers under the age of 21.
"Consider his age," Fallat said. "He is 19 years old."
Video from Walton's arrest showed a white car being towed away.
Sources told Local 10 News that other allegations have been made against Walton, including one that he may have been impersonating a police officer. Those allegations have not been confirmed by police.
"I'm not at liberty to speak about what this other case is about," Fallat said.
The university has taken action against Walton.
"We are aware of the situation regarding Mark Walton and we have taken immediate action by suspending him from the team," University of Miami athletic director Blake James said. "We have no further comment at the time."
Walton, a Booker T. Washington Senior High School graduate, completed a successful freshman season with the Hurricanes last year, playing in all 13 games, ending the season with 1,054 all-purpose yards and leading the team with 10 touchdowns.