All Whites' Jake Gleeson arrested on drink-driving charge

  • 26/10/2016
Jake Gleeson (Photosport file)
Jake Gleeson (Photosport file)

All Whites goalkeeper Jake Gleeson is facing charges of drink-driving and reckless endangerment after crashing his vehicle in Oregon early Tuesday (NZT).

Gleeson, who's in the US playing for Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers, phoned teammate Liam Ridgwell for help after rear-ending another car, according to reports from oregonlive.com.

Local police then attended the scene and found the pair, who then failed field sobriety tests before being booked into the county jail. Both posted a bond of $US7,500 ($NZ10,468) and were released.  

"It was a BMW emergency services that reported the crash to us," said Tom Hamann, Lake Oswego police spokesman, referring to an in-car emergency alert system.

Officers responded and found Gleeson's BMW sustained front-end damage with its airbag deployed after what appeared to be a crash into the rear of another car.

Both men refused to take a breath test, for which they were also cited.

Makenzie Varaniclapp, the driver of the rear-ended vehicle, had driven away after the crash, Hamann confirmed. Varaniclapp was found later without injuries and not cited.

New Zealand Football Chief Executive Andy Martin said All Whites coach Anthony Hudson was in the process of gathering more information on the matter. 

"It is difficult for us to comment until we have spoken to Jake and the club and got more information," said Martin. 

"We expect high standards of professionalism from our players both on and off the pitch so we are naturally disappointed to read this news but we need to know more before making any further comment."

Gleeson hasn't played for the All Whites since 2014 but was set to join the squad which played two friendlies this month against the USA, picked to start in the second match before being ruled out with a minor injury.

"The team is aware of the events that occurred last evening involving players Jake Gleeson and Liam Ridgewell and is in the process of gathering information on the matter," said a statement issued by the Timbers.

"The team has been in close contact with the players, local law enforcement and the league office. The club will not have further comment until more information is available."

Their cases will go to a Lake Oswego municipal court for hearing, scheduled for November 16th.

Newshub.