Cedric Benson released from jail, again

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Current Cincinnati Bengals and former University of Texas Lonhorn running back Cedric Benson was arrested early Sunday morning in Austin and is being charged with a misdemeanor assault with injury.

According to an arrest affidavit, a former roommate was standing at the corner of Fifth and Guadalupe streets talking on his cell phone around 5 a.m. when he was approached by a “hostile and aggressive Benson” who told him they “needed to talk about their problems.”

The former roommate said they began talking about their living arrangements when “all of a sudden he was struck on his face with a closed fist throw by Benson.”

The man said Benson continued to punch him all over the face, "resulting in severe injury."

The affidavit also said the former roommate was bleeding from the mouth and complained about “possible loss of teeth and massive swelling of the left cheek.”

Benson, 28, walked out of Travis County Jail around 2 p.m. Sunday escorted by his attorney, Sam Bassett.

"No comment," responded Benson when asked about being behind bars.

"Mr. Benson has been charged with misdemeanor assault arising out of a conflict with a former male roommate. The two had difficulties resulting from Mr. Benson asking the former male roommate to leave his home a few days prior to this incident. The conflict became physical early this morning and we intend to fully investigate. There is not enough information available at this time for further comment," said Bassett.

Benson was arrested last June and charged with assault following a dispute at a bar.

Police said a scuffle erupted at Annie's West bar on May 30, with the distrubance beginning at 1:50 a.m. between Benson and an unknown person. Bar staff separated them , and they escorted Benson out as he allegedly spit blood from his injured lip.

Court documents indicate bar staff tried to figure out what happened between Benson and the other person when Benson began to become "verbally aggressive toward the bar staff."

When he refused to leave after bar staff reportedly asked him several times, the bar manager and a bartender physically escorted the athlete out.

Once outside, Benson allegedly punched the bartender on the left side of his face -- striking him once.

Just prior to the 2008 season, Benson was also arrested on for boating while intoxicated after LCRA stopped his boat to conduct a safety inspection. In the May 3 incident on Lake Travis police said Benson resisted arrest and had to be pepper sprayed after failing a sobriety test on the boat.

In June 2008, Benson was arrested in Austin and faced a driving while intoxicated charge.  A Travis County grand jury later declined to issue an indictment.

Benson's string of legal troubles extended to Illinois where he was arrested in May of 2008 after racing at speeds of 77 miles an hour in a 45 mile per hour speed zone at 3:00a.m. in the morning.

Benson was driving a 2005 BMW with Texas plates. He was sentenced to four months of supervised probation in that incident on Edens Expressway and ordered to pay a $510 fine for speeding in a construction zone. Police said Benson was cooperative with police in Illinois.

Benson was a four-year starter at UT where he received the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back in 2004.

He also was a 2004 All-American selection.