SANTA CLARA—The San Francisco 49ers released linebacker Aldon Smith from the team Friday, following his arrest Thursday night on hit and run, driving under the influence and vandalism charges, according to Santa Clara police.
“It’s a sad day,” head coach Jim Tomsula said Friday. “This is a day that doesn’t have anything to do with football. Although he won’t be playing football for the San Francisco 49ers, he will be supported and helped and he will not have to walk this path alone.”
Tomsula said the mood in the 49ers clubhouse was heavy with sadness following the departure of Smith.
Tomsula has repeatedly echoed that Smith was “turning his life around” and, even in the wake of Thursday’s events, held to that notion.
“People stumble. Some things are a greater risk…he is in that process of turning his life around, he is in that process,” the 49ers head coach said. “In terms of him playing football again, I sure hope so. I think he can and I want him to.”
Santa Clara officers were dispatched to Moreland Way in Santa Clara to investigate a disturbance involving a collision around 11:40 p.m. Once at the scene, officers learned Smith was parking his vehicle when he collided with a parked car. Following the collision, Smith caused additional damage upon exiting his vehicle with his car door, according to a statement from Santa Clara police.
Smith then allegedly left the scene without reporting the collision incident, but later returned “displaying symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage” and was issued a field sobriety test. The results of Smith’s blood-alcohol test were not released Friday.
Tomsula said Smith came to the into the team’s facility Friday morning to meet with him and general manager Trent Baalke. It was then the decision was made to release the linebacker. The team issued the following statement just before noon:
“This organization has tried very hard to help Aldon fight his issues. Although he is no longer a member of this team, our support and concern for him will continue.”
This is the third DUI-related arrest for the 25-year-old, and his fifth total since 2012. He was first arrested on suspicion of a DUI in January 2012 in Miami Beach. His second incident occurred in September 2013 when he was arrested on suspicion of a DUI after crashing into a tree in a San Jose neighborhood.
Smith’s legal troubles expanded in October 2013 after he was charged with three felony counts of possessing illegal assault weapons. He was ultimately sentenced to 11 days in a work program for the charges in lieu of jail-time for the crimes, reduced to misdemeanors, more than 200 hours of community service and $3,000 in fines.
Smith was also arrested on April 13, 2014 following suspicion of making a false bomb treat at Los Angeles International Airport, though the Los Angeles City Attorney did not file charges.
Tomsula expressed deep sadness at Smith’s release and urged anyone struggling with similar issues to seek help:
“…if one person out there reads this, and you’re struggling, get help. Go get it. You’re worth it. You’re worth it. There’s value in every human being. Get the help. You don’t have to walk alone. Find it, it’s there.”
