It wasn’t until late last month that reports surfaced concerning the drunk driving arrest of Arizona Cardinals linebacker John Abraham. The arrest, which took place in June, occurred in DeKalb County, Georgia, near Atlanta. Abraham is a five time Pro Bowl selection, and the active leader in career sacks.
The initial stories that appeared in Phoenix late last month stated merely that Abraham, who had been absent from the Cardinals training camp for several days at that point, was charged with DUI, as well as stopping or parking in a prohibited area. A statement from the team indicated only that he had been absent for “personal reasons.”
Within a couple of days after the initial articles, more information concerning the arrest was published. According to police, Abraham was discovered passed out behind the wheel of his car at 4:00 p.m. in an Atlanta suburb. He was actually stopped in the center southbound lane of an intersection. He reportedly had come from a strip club, where, they say, Abraham admitted to having two drinks. He told police he was waiting for someone to pick him up, but no one showed up.
A number of field sobriety tests were administered, which police say Abraham failed. They included walking and balancing tests, as well as reciting the alphabet. Police also say that Abraham agreed at first to a breath test, but later refused to take one. Finally, Abraham apparently was driving with a South Carolina driver’s license, which had been suspended. The license was confiscated by the officers.
After all the information came out, Abraham issued an apology, stating that he regretted letting his family, friends and teammates down. He said he was looking forward to returning to the Cardinals “in the near future.” He also said he was taking the necessary steps to deal with his “personal business.”
This is, according to reports, Abraham’s third alcohol-related arrest. In 2003, he pleaded guilty in New York to driving while impaired, where his vehicle struck a fire hydrant. Police say his BAC was three times the legal limit. And in 2012, he was arrested after he allegedly refused to leave an area that had been cordoned off by police; on that occasion, officers said that he showed signs of intoxication, including slurred speech.
A DUI conviction in Georgia, even for a first offender, carries serious penalties, including the possibility of mandatory jail time, fines, community service, DUI school, license revocation, and insurance surcharges. We’ll monitor the story for further developments.
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