Ex-49ers player leads cops on wild West Hollywood chase after traffic stop

A former NFL running back put his old football moves to use on the streets of Los Angeles, leading deputies on a foot chase before getting caught and hauled off to jail.

Joseph Williams, a former San Francisco 49ers running back, was arrested in West Hollywood Wednesday after refusing to surrender to authorities and fleeing on foot, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies first encountered Williams, 33, around 4 p.m. near La Brea and Fountain avenues during a possible speeding stop. They let him go with a verbal warning, but later discovered he had an outstanding felony warrant for receiving stolen property.

When deputies stopped him a second time, Williams took off running through the streets of West Hollywood before officers could take him into custody.

Authorities caught up with him on Formosa Avenue near Romaine Street and arrested him on suspicion of receiving stolen property, resisting or obstructing an officer, vandalism, trespassing and violating the terms of probation or supervised release.

Williams is being held on the felony warrant, with bail set at $50,000. He was booked at the LASD West Hollywood Station and is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 2 at the LAX Superior Courthouse.

The 49ers selected Williams in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of the University of Utah. He appeared in 19 games over two seasons before the team cut him in 2018 following injuries and “a lack of production,” according to ESPN.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters