Patriots release Brandon Spikes in wake of police investigation
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots have released linebacker Brandon Spikes after a damaged vehicle belonging to him was found abandoned in the median of Interstate 495 over the weekend, prompting an investigation by the Massachusetts State Police, reports CBS Boston.
The 2011 Mercedes-Maybach registered to Spikes was found with front-end damage at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday in Foxborough, Mass., after the operator via the OnStar on-board navigation system reported hitting a deer, state police spokesman David Procopio said in a statement. It's not clear who had been driving.
"Whoever had been driving it was no longer at the scene," Procopio said. "Investigation indicates the Mercedes is registered to Brandon Spikes. No deer was located."
A short time later, troopers responded to a report that a Nissan Murano, also on I-495 in the same area as the abandoned car, had been rear-ended by a vehicle the occupants did not see. Three people - a 52-year-old man, a 32-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy, all from Billerica - were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, authorities said.
Police say they have contacted Spikes and are investigating whether the incidents are related. So far, no connection has been established and no charges have been filed.
On Monday, the Patriots announced they had released the linebacker from their roster. The Patriots' official news release included no mention of the police investigation.
Phone and email messages left with Spikes' agent weren't immediately returned.
Spikes was drafted out of Florida by the Patriots in 2010. He spent the first four years of his career with the team before playing last season with the Buffalo Bills. He re-signed with the Patriots last month.