LaRussa arrested for DUI

mjohnson71 · March 22, 2007

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/laworder/story/B1B868AA7C729BAE862572A600446AEC?OpenDocument

La Russa arrested on drunk-driving charge
By Joe Strauss and Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/22/2007

JUPITER, Fla. -– Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was jailed by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department early this morning on a charge of suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a police report obtained by the Post-Dispatch.

La Russa, 62, was booked at 4:07 a.m. local time after Jupiter police conducted the traffic stop.

The arrest potentially represents La Russa’s first offense, according to the report.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff placed the report on-line before most players had arrived at the team’s spring training complex. La Russa typically arrives at Roger Dean Stadium around 7 a.m.

A release from the Jupiter Police Department said the traffic stop had happened around midnight. The police report said he had been given a field sobriety test that showed La Russa’s blood alcohol level was 0.093. Florida law considers 0.080 driving under the influence. He game two breath samples at Palm Beach County Jail before being book.

The charge is a misdemeanor, and La Russa posted a $500 bond. But he was required to spend eight hours in custody before being released. He was expected to be released between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Florida time, Palm Beach County Sheriff spokesman Paul Miller said.

La Russa was found inside his stalled dark blue Escalade SUV at Frederick Small Blvd and Military Trail, about 15 miles from the stadium and less than a mile from the manager’s spring residence, the release from Jupiter police said.

La Russa was found asleep behind the wheel with his foot on the vehicle’s brake pedal. When an undercover officer told him to put the car in park, the Cardinals manager complied, according to a release.

A report filed by Jupiter police said that the Cardinals manager was breathing but that initial attempts to rouse La Russa by "repeated knocks on the window" on the driver’s side window had failed.