For the second time in less than four months, a former star quarterback at the University of Hawaii was taken into police custody after allegedly causing a drunken disturbance.
Colt Brennan, 37, was arrested at his Kailua-Kona home Wednesday evening and charged with disorderly conduct, according to police.
A housemate told police Brennan had awakened him at about 7:30 p.m. by banging on his door with a chair. When Brennan entered the room, he apparently stumbled into the housemate, causing both to fall to the floor.
Brennan was described by arresting officers as “extremely intoxicated and uncooperative,” police said.
On Thursday, Brennan pleaded not guilty to the charge, a petty misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. He was ordered by Kona District Judge Margaret Masunaga to appear for a pretrial conference at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and freed on court-supervised release without cash bail.
Brennan was arrested for trespassing on Aug. 1 at the Kona Seaside Hotel after he allegedly caused a disturbance and refused to leave the premises after being requested to do so by the manager.
Police said Brennan was “heavily intoxicated” when arrested at the Kailua-Kona hotel.
On Oct. 5, that charge was dismissed without prejudice — which means it can be refiled — at the request of prosecutors, according to court records.
Although his criminal record is minimal, Brennan has had several well-publicized brushes with the law.
He was arrested Dec. 10, 2019, in Kaneohe, Oahu, and charged with DUI, driving without insurance and leaving the scene of an accident involving vehicle or property damage. That case is still active, and he has an Dec. 12 court date in Kaneohe.
In August 2015, Brennan was charged with filing a false report that his vehicle was stolen. His lawyer blamed a Nov. 19, 2010 head-on crash on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway for Brennan experiencing memory problems, leading to the false stolen vehicle report.
The state later dismissed the case.
Brennan was hospitalized for eight days with head, rib and collarbone injuries after the 2010 crash, in which he was a passenger in an SUV driven by his girlfriend. The other driver, a Waikoloa woman, was critically injured.
In July 2013, Brennan pleaded no contest to DUI after being stopped more than a year earlier in Kailua, Oahu, for allegedly speeding. Police said Brennan’s blood-alcohol content was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit. He paid $162 in court fees.
Brennan enjoyed a stellar career at UH. As a junior in 2006, he threw 58 touchdown passes, setting an NCAA single-season record. That mark was eclipsed last year by Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow of Louisiana State University. In his senior season, Brennan led the Warriors, coached by June Jones, to a 12-0 regular season record.
After finishing third in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 2007, Brennan was selected in the sixth round of the NFL draft by the Washington Football Team in 2008 and signed to a four-year, $1.8 million contract. He was released in 2010 after suffering a torn hamstring and hip injury. Brennan then signed in the preseason that year with the Oakland Raiders, but was cut before the season began.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
