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Former Minnesota Vikings great Carl Eller
punched a police officer and threw another one onto the hood of his
Mercedes SUV as they tried to arrest him for possible drunken
driving, police said.

      Officers Gil Antaya and Seth Porras are both at least 200
pounds, but they frantically called for backup in the confrontation
early Wednesday, Inspector Mike Martin said.

      "They said they were fighting for their lives," Martin said at
a news conference, where he showed photos of the officers'
injuries. 

Antaya has a large bump on the side of his nose and
swelling near his eye, and Porras suffered scratches and bruises,
Martin said.


      After other officers arrived to help, the 66-year-old Eller was
taken to the Hennepin County jail. He refused to take a breath or
blood test and was booked on suspicion of driving while
intoxicated, fleeing police and assaulting a police officer.

      Martin said the officers in north Minneapolis saw an SUV swerve
toward them and speed through a stop sign. They gave chase, and the
SUV reached speeds of more than 60 mph through city streets.

      The SUV didn't stop until it pulled into Eller's garage at about
1 a.m., Martin said. 

The officers followed Eller into his garage
and asked him to get out of the vehicle. He refused at first, but
when he got out he threatened and fought with officers, Martin
said. One of them used a Taser, but Martin said it had no effect.

      During the scuffle, the officers were able to put Eller into a
neck hold until help arrived, he said.

      Eller was a member of the famed "Purple People Eaters" in his
15 years as a defensive end with Minnesota from 1964-78. He played
in six Pro Bowls and all four of the Vikings' trips to the Super
Bowl. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

      Martin said it was a difficult arrest for the officers, who
didn't initially realize it was Eller.

      "These officers are crushed," Martin said. "This is a guy who
was a hero to many of the officers in this department."

      Martin said Eller did not request a lawyer when he was
questioned Wednesday and it was unclear if he had hired one. He
remained jailed Wednesday afternoon.

      In 2006, Eller was charged in the suburb of Golden Valley with
driving under the influence. He later pleaded guilty.

      Eller has acknowledged his history as a substance abuser. He
became a treatment counselor and has spoken publicly to groups
about the problems of chemical dependency.

      The officers were disappointed to be fighting someone they'd
admired, but "they hope that maybe this situation will allow him
to get the help that he apparently needs," Martin said.

Gallery

Crime, Law and Justice

Elizabeth Dunbar

Author

Former Minnesota Vikings great Carl Eller
punched a police officer and threw another one onto the hood of his
Mercedes SUV as they tried to arrest him for possible drunken
driving, police said.


Ex-Viking Carl Eller arrested for alcohol-related driving offense

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