Veteran Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Josh Neer was arrested early Thursday morning after allegedly hitting a police car and fleeing from the scene in a subsequent 15-minute police chase that reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.
Neer now faces charges of second-offense operating a vehicle while intoxicated and eluding police, a representative from the Des Moines Police Department told MMAjunkie.com (
UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com).
Neer was arrested in the early hours of New Year's Day and released later in the morning after posting $7,000 in bail for the two offenses.
According to a report from KCCI.com, Neer fled from cops after allegedly hitting a parked police car. After a failed PIT maneuver, police reportedly stopped Neer's car after deploying stop sticks to flatten the tires.
The chase lasted approximately 15 minutes and hit speeds of more than 100 miles per hour on I-35/80.
A court date has not been set for Neer.
Neer (24-7-1 MMA, 3-4 UFC), 25, is a six-year MMA professional who made his UFC debut in 2005. Currently in his third stint with the UFC, he most recently suffered a split-decision loss to Nate Diaz in September.
Neer, who fights under the nickname "The Dentist," is slated to compete next in February against Mac Danzig in the UFC Fight Night 17 co-main event.
MMAjunkie.com could not immediately reach Neer for comment.
