Former Atlanta Falcon Ray Buchanan was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and speeding early Saturday — his 41st birthday.
Buchanan, a defensive back for the Falcons from 1997-2003, was spotted driving a silver SUV northbound on I-85 at 95 mph shortly before 3 a.m., according to a Gwinnett County police report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The posted speed limit is 65 mph in the area, the report states.
An officer also observed Buchanan darting in and out of traffic without using a turn signal, police said. When the officer turned on his blue lights, Buchanan allegedly continued driving for a quarter mile before swerving across several lanes of traffic and stopping on the opposite side of the roadway, the report states.
Buchanan, of a Duluth address, smelled of alcohol and admitted he’d had one drink, according to police. He was placed under arrest and transported to the police department, where he blew a .091 percent on the state alcohol breath test, police said. The blood alcohol limit in Georgia law is .08 percent.
From there, officers took Buchanan to the county jail, where was charged with DUI, speeding and improper turning, booking records show. He was released at 8 a.m. Saturday after posting $2,319 bond, according to jail records.
A Pro Bowl cornerback, Buchanan was nicknamed “Big Play Ray” and played his final season in 2004 for the Oakland Raiders.
Buchanan’s arrest comes on the heels of the arrests of two current Falcons in separate cases. On Sept. 18, running back Michael Turner was arrested by Gwinnett police on DUI and speeding charges. Then on Sept. 24, defensive end John Abraham was arrested by Atlanta police and charged with two counts of obstruction. Abraham allegedly refused to move when officers and firefighters were working an active crime scene near his Midtown condo.
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