Former UFC champion BJ Penn is once again in trouble with the law.
On Monday, the Hawai‘i Police Department confirmed in a press release that the MMA star, who has had repeated run-ins with the law over the years, was arrested this past Saturday and charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants. MMA Fighting was first to report news of Penn’s most recent run-in with the law.
The arrest stemmed from a call reporting a reckless driver on commercial property in the island’s Hamakua district.
“Upon arriving on scene, police learned through witnesses that Penn had arrived at the business earlier in a gray Toyota pickup truck. Prior to police arrival, the 42-year-old was observed talking loudly towards employees and later drove off the property in a reckless manner,” police officials stated.
“While officers were at the scene speaking with the business employees about the incident, they observed Penn return to the property. Officers contacted Penn and observing signs of impairment, arrested him for operating a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants. Penn was later released pending further investigation.”
Video of the encounter, showing an irate Penn, has been making its way around the internet.
Last year, Penn was hospitalized following a single vehicle crash, which led to its own DUI investigation by Hawaii police. His UFC career ended in controversy after multiple instances of public intoxication, including one in which the former lightweight and welterweight champ was knocked out in a parking lot scrap ahead of a proposed fight with Nik Lentz. That led UFC President Dana White to finally pull the trigger on cutting Penn.
