Ex-Ravens RB Alex Collins faces marijuana, gun charges after Friday arrest
Former Baltimore Ravens running back Alex Collins faces gun and drug charges following his arrest in Maryland on Friday, according to police and online court records.
Collins made an initial court appearance early Saturday and was formally charged in Maryland district court with possession of more than 10 grams of marijuana, intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a handgun in a vehicle. The intent to distribute charge is a felony, while the other two charges are misdemeanors..
The Ravens released Collins, who was a restricted free agent, a few hours after the Baltimore County Police Department confirmed his arrest Friday.
Police said in a news release that Collins was arrested after crashing his black Chevrolet Corvette into a tree in Owings Mills, Maryland, less than a mile from the Ravens' practice facility. Officers found Collins asleep in the car. He said he had lost control of the vehicle due to weather and fallen asleep while waiting for a tow truck. A passenger in the vehicle at the time of the crash had walked home, Collins said.
Police said an odor of marijuana triggered a search of the vehicle, upon which officers found a glass jar containing roughly five ounces of marijuana and a handgun. Collins informed police that there was additional marijuana and firearms at his home, prompting officers to search the home and find two rifles, ammunition and less than 10 grams of marijuana.
Collins, 24, was released on $7,500 bond on Saturday. His next scheduled court appearance is March 29.
"There are disputed facts in this case, and we look forward to working that out," Collins' attorney, Andrew I. Alperstein, told The Baltimore Sun. "Alex is a nice young man and has been a wonderful contributor to our community in Baltimore and I hope folks will give him the benefit of the doubt as the facts flesh out."
Collins spent the past two years with the Ravens. He was Baltimore's primary running back in 2017, racking up 973 yards and six touchdowns, before being supplanted by rookie Gus Edwards and ending last season on injured reserve.