Legendary Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps , the most decorated Olympian of all time , was arrested early Tuesday in Maryland on a DUI charge , according to the Maryland Transportation Authority . Phelps , known as the `` Baltimore Bullet '' and winner of 18 Olympic gold medals , was arrested at about 1:40 a.m. and charged with driving under the influence , excessive speed and crossing double lane lines within the Fort McHenry Tunnel on I-95 in Baltimore , the authority said in a statement . He was later released . Phelps , who returned to competitive swimming in April , said on his official Twitter account that he understands the severity of his actions . `` I know these words may not mean much right now but I am deeply sorry to everyone I have let down , '' Phelps , 29 , said in a series of three tweets . USA Swimming issued a written statement Tuesday afternoon . `` The news regarding Michael Phelps and his actions are disappointing and unquestionably serious . We expect our athletes to conduct themselves responsibly in and out of the pool , '' the statement said . A Maryland Transportation Authority police officer was operating a stationary radar on southbound I-395 leaving Baltimore when a white 2014 Land Rover passed traveling at 84 mph in a 45-mph zone . The officer followed the vehicle onto northbound I-95 , through the tunnel and stopped the Land Rover just beyond the tunnel 's toll plaza . The 22-time Olympic medalist was identified as the driver by his driver 's license and appeared to be under the influence , the statement said . `` He was unable to perform satisfactorily a series of standard field sobriety tests , '' the statement added . `` Mr. Phelps was cooperative throughout the process . '' Previous run-ins with the law . It was not Phelps ' first DUI case . In 2004 , he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence in Salisbury , Maryland . He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months probation . He also issued an apology after that incident . In 2009 , a photograph surfaced of Phelps allegedly smoking pot from a bong at a party . `` I 'll make a million mistakes in my life but as long as I never make the same mistake again , then I 've been able to learn and grow , '' Phelps told CNN in 2012 . He also said that the incident made him realize who his real friends were . After the bong incident , Phelps was suspended from competitive swimming for three months and one of his sponsors said it would not renew his contract . USA Swimming , the nation 's governing body for competitive swimming , said it was withdrawing financial support for Phelps and barring him from competition during the period of his `` reprimand . '' Kellogg Co. said it would not renew his advertising contract . `` Michael 's most recent behavior is not consistent with the image of Kellogg , '' company spokeswoman Susanne Norwitz said at the time . At the time , Phelps admitted `` regrettable behavior '' after a British newspaper published the photograph . The tabloid News of the World showed Phelps using the bong during what it said was a November party at the University of South Carolina in Columbia . Back in the water . In April , back in the pool for the first time since 2012 , Phelps was close to his peerless best and raced to a second-place finish in the 100-meter butterfly final in front of a sold-out crowd at the Skyline Aquatic Center in Arizona . Phelps retired after the 2012 Olympics and embarked on a year of travel and golfing , with little mention of a return to swimming . But he sparked speculation about a potential comeback by re-entering the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency 's testing program last November -- which began a nine-month wait required before a swimmer can again compete . When the question of a return to Olympic action arose -- with a potential fifth games in Brazil in 2016 -- Phelps would only say he is taking `` one step at a time . '' In August , he won five medals at his first international meet -- the Pan Pacific Championships -- since the Olympics . Phelps won the 100-meter butterfly and was on Team USA 's winning 800-meter and 400-meter medley relay teams . He took silver in the 200 individual medley and 400-meter freestyle relay . He was selected as the United States Olympic Committee 's male athlete of the month . Amanda Bynes arrested on DUI charge .
Olympic swimmer Olympic apologizes to people he `` let down '' 22-time Olympic medalist is arrested on a DUI charge . A Land Rover he was driving in Baltimore was stopped for speeding . Baltimore , 29 , returned to swimming in about two years ahead , April of about two years ahead .