Former Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, now with the Indianapolis Colts, has been formally charged after his August DUI arrest, with court records showing his blood alcohol level tested at 0.224.
Keenan Allen Arrested in Downtown Indianapolis
Keenan Allen, the 34 year old wide receiver who spent more than a decade with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers, was arrested by Indianapolis police around 1 a.m. on August 30. Officers were conducting a traffic investigation in the 100 block of South Meridian Street after spotting a car parked in a no-parking zone.
When officers made contact with Allen, they reported observing signs of intoxication. He was arrested on the spot and booked at the Marion County Adult Detention Center. He was released later that same day.
Formal Charges and a 0.224 BAC
More than two weeks after the arrest, prosecutors moved forward with formal charges. Court records obtained by ESPN show Allen’s blood alcohol level tested at 0.224, nearly three times California’s legal limit of 0.08.
Allen now faces two misdemeanor counts:
- Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more, a Class A misdemeanor
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor
The BAC reading is what pushed the more serious Class A charge onto the docket. Without it, Allen would likely be facing a single, lower level misdemeanor.
What Happens Next in the Case
The next scheduled event is an attorney conference set for October 26. That date will largely determine how the case moves forward, whether toward a plea negotiation, a motion to challenge the evidence, or a trial setting.
Cases with a BAC this elevated tend to move slower and draw more scrutiny from prosecutors, since the number itself becomes a central piece of evidence.
Keenan Allen’s Ties to Orange County and the Chargers
Allen isn’t just another NFL name attached to a DUI headline. He played for the Chargers from 2013 through 2023, first in San Diego and later after the franchise’s move to Los Angeles, then returned to the team again in 2025 before signing with the Colts this year. For Southern California football fans, especially the ones who watched him develop into a six time Pro Bowler in a Chargers uniform, this is a familiar face in an unfamiliar situation.
NFL Discipline Still Looms
Beyond the criminal case, Allen could face league discipline. The NFL’s substance abuse policy calls for a mandatory three game suspension when a player is convicted of, or pleads guilty to, an alcohol related offense. Reports have noted that in past cases involving a significantly elevated BAC, the league has issued longer suspensions than the standard three games. Given that Allen’s BAC was nearly triple the legal threshold, his case could draw that kind of scrutiny from the league office.
How California Law Handles a BAC This High
Allen’s arrest happened in Indiana, but the legal questions his case raises are the same ones Orange County drivers face every day. California DUI law starts with two core statutes:
- Vehicle Code 23152(a): Driving under the influence of alcohol
- Vehicle Code 23152(b): Driving with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher
A BAC as high as 0.224 crosses into more serious territory. Under Vehicle Code 23538(b)(2), prosecutors can file a high BAC enhancement once a driver’s blood alcohol content reaches 0.20 percent or more. For a first time offender age 21 or older, that enhancement carries a minimum nine month DUI program, well beyond the standard shorter course, along with a 10 month license suspension through the DMV.
An Arrest and a Charge Are Not a Conviction
- Allen has been arrested and formally charged, but none of it has been proven in court
- Prosecutors still have to establish that the BAC result is accurate and reliable
- Breath and blood testing procedures, calibration records, and chain of custody can all be challenged
- Misdemeanor DUI charges are regularly reduced or dismissed depending on how the evidence holds up
High profile arrests like this one tend to get lumped in with other celebrity DUI cases, and the eventual outcome rarely matches the tone of the initial headline.
Orange County DUI Defense Insight
- Challenging the accuracy and calibration of breath testing equipment
- Questioning the legal basis for the initial stop
- Reviewing how any field sobriety tests were administered and scored
- Examining chain of custody on blood evidence before it ever reaches a jury
Learn more about DUI defense:
DUI Defense Resource Center
- In California, you have only 10 days to request a DMV hearing after a DUI arrest
- Missing that window can mean an automatic license suspension before the criminal case is even resolved
- Early legal action can change the outcome of both the DMV case and the criminal case
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Keenan Allen convicted of DUI?
No. He has been arrested and formally charged, but his case has not gone to trial. The next scheduled date is an attorney conference on October 26.
What was Keenan Allen’s blood alcohol level?
Court records show his BAC tested at 0.224, well above the 0.08 legal limit and above the 0.20 threshold that triggers California’s high BAC enhancement under Vehicle Code 23538(b)(2).
What charges does he face?
He faces a Class A misdemeanor for operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher, and a Class C misdemeanor for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Could he be suspended by the NFL?
Possibly. The league’s substance abuse policy allows for a mandatory three game suspension for alcohol related convictions, and the league has handed down longer suspensions in cases involving a significantly elevated BAC.
How would a case like this be handled in California?
A BAC of 0.224 would trigger California’s high BAC enhancement under Vehicle Code 23538(b)(2), which applies once a driver’s BAC reaches 0.20 percent or more. For a first time offender 21 or older, that means a minimum nine month DUI program and a 10 month DMV license suspension, on top of the underlying DUI penalties.
Does an arrest always lead to a conviction?
No. An arrest is the start of the legal process, not the end of it. Evidence, testing procedures, and the circumstances of the stop can all be challenged before a case ever reaches a verdict.
