Lynch, 26, was arrested early Saturday in the city of Emeryville, Officer Peter van Eckhardt said.
He was taken to the Santa Rita Jail, where he was cited and later released. Lynch took a chemical test but it wasn't clear whether that was a blood or breath test, the officer said.
Van Eckhardt said the test results would be forwarded with the rest of the arrest information to the Alameda County district attorney's office to determine whether charges will be filed. He had no details of the arrest.
The Seahawks said a statement late Monday that the team is "aware of the situation with Marshawn and still gathering information."
Lynch signed a four-year contract in March that will keep him in a Seattle uniform for the prime of his NFL career. The contract is worth $31 million, including a guaranteed $18 million. Lynch rushed for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
Lynch came to Seattle during the 2010 season in a trade with Buffalo after his career with the Bills stalled. Lynch ran into problems off the field in Buffalo, but stayed clear of trouble with the Seahawks until now.
He pleaded guilty in March 2009 to a misdemeanor gun charge in Los Angeles. He was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and three years probation, and was suspended three games by the league for violating the NFL personal conduct policy.
That was Lynch's second run-in with the law following a hit-and run-accident in Buffalo in May 2008. In the earlier incident, he pleaded guilty to a traffic violation and admitted to driving away after striking a woman with his car near Buffalo's downtown bar district.
Photo via Flickr/KellBailey