Former Viking Eller in trouble over motorcycle license plates

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: May 16, 2008 - 12:19 PM

Former Minnesota Vikings standout Carl Eller has run afoul of the law again, this time for driving with unlawful license plates, according to a Minneapolis Police report.

Police stopped Eller Wednesday afternoon as he rode his motorcycle near the intersection of 2nd Street and 17th Avenue N. Officers on patrol recognized Eller and ran his license plates. Turns out his plates should have had a special code on them because of past alcohol-related offenses.

Eller's motorcycle was impounded and the former football player was cited and released, the report said.

The traffic violation occurred just over a month after Eller was charged in Hennepin County District Court with fourth-degree assault and terroristic threats, both felonies, in an incident involving a violent scuffle with Minneapolis Police. In that case, Eller allegedly hit and threatened two officers who had tried to arrest him for drunken driving and fleeing police.

The Vikings legend and member of the NFL's Hall of Fame also was charged with drunken driving and refusing to submit to a sobriety test, both gross misdemeanors, in connection with the April 9 incident.

Eller, 66, is scheduled to appear May 19 in Hennepin County Court for a hearing on those charges.

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