Baltimore Ravens Safety Matthew Elam Arrested on Drug Charges in Florida

BALTIMORE, MD — Baltimore Ravens safety and former first-round draft pick Matthew Elam was charged with drug offenses on Saturday night after police reportedly spotted his dark blue Range Rover weaving in and out traffic, "screeching his tires" and "forcing" a motorist to move out of the way in a Miami Beach, Florida, residential neighborhood.

The 25-year-old Elam, who listed his permanent address as the 1200 block of West 23rd Street in Riviera Beach, Florida, was arrested at 7:16 p.m. by undercover Miami Beach police officers who were patrolling the quiet tree-loaned neighborhood of expensive homes after a string of robberies and burglaries in the area. Elam was arrested one block from pop star Justin Bieber's 2014 arrest for DUI and resisting arrest.

Elam's arrest report did not list an occupation. But it won't be with the Ravens, according to a statement from the team, which said that the Ravens are aware of Elam's arrest. The team added that "Matt is not in our plans for the 2017 Ravens."

Elam was charged with reckless driving, possession of more than 20 grams of cannabis, possession with intent to sell, deliver or manufacture cannabis and possession of a controlled substance.

According to the arrest report, Elam pulled up behind an unmarked police vehicle "at a high rate of speed" and "then passed us on the left lane in a high rate of speed and then swerved into our lane without using proper signals, causing us to abruptly pump our brakes ... in order for us not to collide with him."

Elam reportedly kept driving for several blocks after police turned on their emergency lights. When the Range Rover came to a stop, police said they detected a "strong odor" or marijuana and saw a "big cloud" of smoke come out of Elam's vehicle.

A passenger in the Range Rover, identified as Calvin E. Stewart, Jr., had a loaded 9 mm semi-automatic handgun that fell out of his waistband when he stepped out of the vehicle, according to arrest documents that listed Stewart as one of three co-defendants. Police said Stewart did not have a concealed carry permit.

Police found a black Gucci book bag on the driver's side floor area that contained a clear plastic vacuum-sealed bag with 126.21 grams of loose marijuana, 6 Oxycodone pills in a Beats headphone pouch, $947 in cash, a men's gold Cuban-link necklace with white stones, a men's gold Cuban-link bracelet with white stones and a gold Rolex Presidential watch with white stones, according to the arrest report.

Elam was a 2013 first-round draft pick for the Ravens, where he played three seasons but failed to start a game in 2016, according to NFL.com. He missed all of 2015 with a torn bicep and a preseason knee injury sidelined him for all but nine games in 2016, according to the Ravens website.

Elam is due to become a free agent on March 9 after the Ravens elected not to pick up his fifth-year option.