Five days after being placed on injured reserve by the Indianapolis Colts, former Western football player Joseph Jefferson was arrested in Bowling Green early Monday morning on charges of driving under the influence.

Jefferson was observed driving in the parking lot of the T-Mart on Morgantown Road about 12:45 a.m. when campus police officer David Skinner saw Jefferson “staggering.” Skinner “detected what appeared to be odor of an alcoholic beverage,” the report said.

Skinner then arrested Jefferson at 1:05 a.m. for DUI and operating on a suspended or revoked license after Jefferson refused a Breathalyzer.

Skinner’s report said he “prevented the subject from re-entering his vehicle because of a handgun laying on the passenger seat.”

Jefferson could not be reached for comment.

The arrest comes just 19 months after Jefferson was picked by the Colts in the third round of the NFL draft.

“Joseph is a grown man and Joseph knows how to take care of himself,” said Western coach David Elson, who was the defensive coordinator when Jefferson played on the Hill.

Last season Jefferson received the majority of his playing time on special teams, where he had one tackle.

Jefferson hadn’t played this season because of a double-hernia. His slow recovery led to the Colts placing him on injured reserve last week.

Herald reporter Danny Schoenbaechler contributed to this story.

Reach Keith Farner at [email protected]