Penn is once again in trouble with the law, the latest in a string of disturbing incidents over the past couple of years.
Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn is in trouble with the law again.
The 42 year old was arrested in Honoka’a, Hawaii on Saturday afternoon after police received a reckless driving complaint. According to a statement from the Hawaii Police Department to MMA Junkie, Penn was “arrested on (Jan. 23, 2021) in Honoka’a for driving under the influence. He has been released pending investigation.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22259659/BJ_Penn_DUI_1.23.2021.jpg)
Hawaii Police Department
Here’s the full statement from the HPD:
Jay Penn of Hilo, also known as BJ Penn, was arrested Saturday, January 23, 2021, for operating a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants.
About 4:51 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, Hawai‘i Police Department officers from the Hamakua district responded to a report of a reckless driver on a business property in Honoka’a.
Upon arriving on scene, police learned through witnesses that Penn had arrived at the business earlier in a gray Toyota pickup truck. Prior to police arrival, the 42-year-old was observed talking loudly towards employees and later drove off the property in a reckless manner.
While officers were at the scene speaking with the business employees about the incident, they observed Penn return to the property. Officers contacted Penn and observing signs of impairment, arrested him for operating a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants. Penn was later released pending further investigation.
As if another arrest wasn’t enough bad press for the troubled former fighting star, it also comes with a video of an angry Penn screaming obscenities at the person filming him being arrested. Not a great look at all.
Video courtesy of #fakazh.
This isn’t Penn’s first brush with the law regarding driving under the influence. Police opened an investigation on him after he crashed his truck into the entrance of a shopping mall. There’s also been numerous other incidents over the last few years requiring the intervention of the law:
- In January of 2018 the police investigated Penn for allegedly threatening a neighbor with a machete.
- In April of 2019, the mother of two of Penn’s children filed a restraining order against him and alleged he had physically and sexually abused her.
- In June of 2019 Penn was caught on camera brawling with a strip club bouncer.
- In August of 2019 Penn was once again caught on camera street fighting outside of a bar, getting knocked out twice. This was the incident that finally pushed the UFC to release Penn.
- Penn was also the subject of a recent paternity suit in December of 2020.
So to say things have gotten rocky for the former champ would be an understatement. Here’s hoping perhaps this incident helps those around Penn get the help he needs to turn a corner here, because this crossed over into extremely dark territory years ago and doesn’t look like it’s getting any better.