Ryan Leaf Arrested: Former NFL Quarterback Charged With Burglary, Drug Possession In Montana

GREAT FALLS, Mont. -- Authorities say former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf has been arrested in his Montana hometown on burglary and drug possession charges.

Great Falls Police Sgt. Dean Bennett says Leaf was arrested Friday afternoon.

The circumstances surrounding Leaf's arrest are not immediately clear. Bennett says he hasn't seen a report detailing the allegations.

Cascade County Detention Center Officer Robert Rivera says Leaf was booked on charges of burglary of a residence, theft and felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

Leaf was freed on $76,000 bond and is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Monday.

The former San Diego Chargers first-round pick has had several past run-ins with the law. In 2010, he pleaded guilty in Amarillo, Texas, to various drug charges and was sentenced to 10 years' probation and fined $20,000.

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Comments

[Salt E Water]

04:47 PM on 04/01/2012

I never saw a Leaf that didn't fall... if he ends up in jail he will either turn to compost, or he will branch out into a better life...

[cmj826]

05:02 PM on 04/01/2012

You can't fix stupid.

[framefiller]

04:38 PM on 04/01/2012

Ryan Leaf played for the San Diego Charger's, but he never played to his potential. The Charger's were quick to realize that Ryan was dragging more than the normal baggage of a high profile college star. It is my opinion and the opinion of people who played with him that he was taking drugs from the very beginning. Ryan Leaf has used every contact that he ever made to keep his career active in football, and drugs have destroyed each one. The theft is just part of the problem of being a drug addict. Ryan Leaf will never be productive in society until he breaks the chains of drug addiction.

[Kid Notorious]

04:14 PM on 04/01/2012

Here's the most shocking thing I've read in regards to this story:

"Leaf released a statement Friday night through his publicist, Wendy Ogunsemore, of Seattle-based Ogunsemore & Staninger."

Ryan Leaf has a publicist??

[cmj826]

05:05 PM on 04/01/2012

Now that's funny. My question is why would that publicist even work for such a screw up? I'm trying to keep this G rated over here and it's killing me.

[Kid Notorious]

05:27 PM on 04/01/2012

Right?? Talk about a lose-lose... But on the bright side for her you always know what you're getting. As soon as you hear the name in the news you just flip over to damage control mode...

[gatornation]

04:02 PM on 04/01/2012

Good thing, for him. he was NOT in Fla...could have been met with a 9MM or 45 SW...

[imalawyer2]

02:18 PM on 04/01/2012

10 years probation and a $ fine. A real deterrent. Great job judge!

[TheTruth76]

01:59 PM on 04/01/2012

LOSER!

[Michael Shepdog]

01:04 PM on 04/01/2012

Life on a platter. What a dope or get serious, A##hold.
I know many players from when I lived in Jersey and there is an appreciation to get to the pros.
What a fool. No sympathy here.

[happyblackman]

01:03 PM on 04/01/2012

Cry'n Leaf...a sad end to a mediocre player.

[Justin Seybert]

12:09 PM on 04/01/2012

Being bipolar is a mental health problem. It is real.

Delonte West is bipolar. He's done some stupid things, squandered all the money he got from the NBA before the lockout (spending money to feel better is common to bipolar people), but he's a good kid, and talented, and I believe he's getting the support he needs with the Mavericks organization. I think perhaps he got more attention for his problem due to use of social media. Too bad Leaf didn't get the help he needed, now he's a sad "where are they now" story instead of a cautionary tale, or spreading awareness for mental health.

[sdave]

01:42 PM on 04/01/2012

Where does it say in the article Leaf is bipolar? He was arrested on drug possession charges and he has done this before....I am guessing this isn't his prescription medication.

[Justin Seybert]

02:13 PM on 04/01/2012

Not in this article, but if you're followed Leaf "news" before, you would have heard it from Leaf himself.

Mental health issues like bipolar disorder can easily go undiagnosed. Drug abuse can be a red flag for more significant problems, though often public perception would rather focus on the criminal behavior as the only problem in and of itself and demonize people who need help.

[stunsitfel]

11:44 AM on 04/01/2012

What a slug. Payton Manning or Leaf? That was the choice when he came out of college.

[hoodoomon80]

01:55 PM on 04/01/2012

Irsay & Polian made a great choice then huh? Now Irsay & Grigson have to choose between two more QB's...Luck or Griffin...will one or both be a bust as well???..I hope Manning wins a Super Bowl in Denver...signed INDY FAN

[flutterbyu]

02:09 PM on 04/01/2012

We hope Manning wins a Super Bowl also. My husband and I live in Texas, but have been Colts fans for years. Now we'll just follow Manning until his retirement.

[stunsitfel]

12:18 PM on 04/03/2012

I too an Indy fan. I think Irsay is going to have a lesson in life as to who built the team.

[dick92533]

02:15 PM on 04/01/2012

WRONG!!!...It was Eli Manning....

[bigod33]

09:37 PM on 04/01/2012

What are you talking about? Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf were drafted the same year.

[ydrittmann]

11:22 PM on 04/01/2012

Twice as many Superbowls in half the time.

[fretbarve]

11:27 AM on 04/01/2012

Leaf recently did the sports talk radio circuit and seemed to be candid, regretful and healthy. Too bad he hasn't gotten control of his illness. Has he really been diagnosed as bi-polar? He never mentioned that during interviews.

[dick92533]

11:38 AM on 04/01/2012

Calling drug use an illness is a joke...Cancer,MS,TB and many others are illnesses...Drug addiction is self induced...It's time to take that "illness"crutch away from drug users and alkys...It's a slap in the face to people that have a real illness...

[360Dunk]

12:08 PM on 04/01/2012

Although drug addiction is self-induced, it nonetheless is still a real illness....so is alcoholism, gambling addiction, and many other illnesses that are related to dependency.

[Cerulean1299]

03:43 PM on 04/01/2012

Addiction can be a form of self medicating an underlying psychiatric issue. It is not as simple as what you said.

[THEbigfatbass]

10:59 AM on 04/01/2012

He has been a guest several times on the Dan Patrick show in the last few years and always came off as a nice guy. He has been doing speaking tours on the subject of his roller coaster life as a warning to young athletes, and really seemed to have his act together. Sounds like he just got busted ripping off his pot dealer. Very, very, sad.

[Charles Kopp]

10:15 AM on 04/01/2012

How the once mighty now has fallen, and what a sad way to end up. He is to blame for once having everything and losing it all. Let this be a cauntionary tale of not believing the hype about you.

[tommycrush]

09:41 AM on 04/01/2012

Go figure he was a bust in the NFL now he's busted in life!

[CarlIII]

09:23 AM on 04/01/2012

If he were a Black Athlete he would have already been kicked out of the League. Bipolar is over diagnosed and a lame cop out. If he committed a felony in Montana then he broke his probation in Texas. Lock this criminal up where he belongs.

[nacareally]

10:27 AM on 04/01/2012

"former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf"

Trouble reading this morning?