A bench warrant will be issued for Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure after he missed his scheduled Monday arraignment on a charge of possessing marijuana, MLive.com reported.
"I'm a Lions fan, but he's going to be treated like anybody else," Berrien County (Mich.) prosecutor Arthur Cotter told the website.
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The Detroit News reported that Leshoure was in Allen Park, Mich., working out and wanted to reschedule the arraignment for later in the week.
However, Cotter said that because Leshoure wasn't in court at the scheduled time Monday, he might be charged with contempt of court in addition to the charge of marijuana possession, second offense.
Police told the Detroit Free Press that Leshoure, who was riding in a car that was stopped March 12, tried to consume the marijuana to avoid being charged.
"My guy stops him, he's a passenger in the car -- you'll read the report -- and when my guy's approaching the car Mr. Leshoure's trying to eat it," Baroda-Lake Township chief Gary Ruhl said. "It was just enough for personal use."
According to the Baroda-Lake Township Police Department's report, a copy of which was obtained by NFL.com, Leshoure was found "to be chewing chunks of marijuana," which he spit out when ordered to do so by police. The officer reportedly saw "small pieces of marijuana down the front of (Leshoure's) shirt" and also found "small amounts of marijuana" in the front seats, center console and front floorboards of the rental car.
Additionally, police discovered a "partially burned marijuana blunt" in a cup of liquid and seized a blue Ziploc bag marked "diesel potpourri," which had a $20 price tag on it, from the driver's luggage.
According to the report, Leshoure admitted having smoked marijuana, but he tried to tell police that most of the contents in his mouth consisted of potpourri.
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Police told NFL.com that prosecutors changed Leshoure's charge from possession of marijuana to possession, second offense, because of a prior citation for possession.
The Lions issued a statement, via MLive.com, about the situation.
"We are aware of the reports," the statement read. "We are gathering more information and have no further comment at this time."
Leshoure also was cited by police Feb. 18 for possessing marijuana, according to the Free Press. In that case, Leshoure plead guilty to using marijuana, which is a less serious charge, and had to pay a fine. WXYZ-TV reported that the fine was for $485.
Leshoure was a second-round pick by the Lions in the 2011 NFL Draft, but he didn't play a game after suffering a torn Achilles before the start of the season. In February, Lions president Tom Lewand said Leshoure was on track to being fully healthy in 2012.
