Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden was arrested on December 10, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence (DUI). The incident occurred near Rainbow Boulevard and Sunset Road, where police discovered Snowden’s 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee precariously perched atop a four-foot retaining wall, its engine running and gear in neutral. Snowden, 26, was found asleep and unresponsive in the driver’s seat.
Officers attempted for approximately ten minutes to rouse Snowden by knocking on the vehicle’s windows. Upon awakening, Snowden appeared disoriented and required assistance to exit the vehicle due to unsteadiness. Body camera footage revealed that he was wearing a Santa hat emblazoned with the “Raiders” logo and was unable to accurately state his location, mistakenly believing he was in Florida. He also struggled to remain awake during interactions with the officers, at one point falling asleep on the hood of a police cruiser.
Subsequent blood tests indicated that Snowden’s blood-alcohol concentration was approximately 0.19%, more than double Nevada’s legal limit of 0.08%. Following his arrest, Snowden was booked into the Clark County Detention Center and later released without bond. His attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, have stated that Snowden will plead not guilty and will address the charges in court.
The Las Vegas Raiders acknowledged the incident, stating they are in contact with the NFL and local authorities but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing legal proceedings. The NFL has also confirmed communication with the Raiders regarding the matter.
This arrest adds to a series of DUI-related incidents involving Raiders players since the team’s relocation to Las Vegas in 2020. Notably, former wide receiver Henry Ruggs was involved in a fatal DUI crash in November 2021, resulting in a prison sentence of three to ten years. Additionally, defensive end Janarius Robinson and former safety Roderic Teamer have faced DUI charges in recent years.
Snowden, who went undrafted out of the University of Virginia in 2021, has had a journeyman career in the NFL. He played briefly for the Chicago Bears in 2021 and spent time on the practice squads of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Raiders before signing with Las Vegas. In the 2024 season, Snowden appeared in all 13 games, starting seven, and recorded 30 tackles, six quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks.
The legal proceedings are ongoing, with Snowden’s arraignment scheduled for April 2025. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for his career and the Raiders’ roster decisions moving forward.
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