Paper Trail
Nov 30th 2007, 04:56 AM
See the video (http://www.wpbf.com/sports/14728310/detail.html)
JUPITER, Fla. -- Jupiter police Wednesday released the dash-camera video that details the drunken driving arrest of St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa on March 22.
On the tape, La Russa, 63, is found asleep inside his running dark blue Ford sport utility vehicle at a stoplight in Jupiter. La Russa's car sat partially in the intersection through two green-light cycles, forcing another driver to go around him, authorities said.
Police told WPBF News 25 that when they approached the SUV, the vehicle was in drive, and La Russa's foot was on the brake pedal. He was awakened after police knocked on the window several times.
Police said La Russa smelled of alcohol and failed standard roadside sobriety tests. Authorities said he gave two breath samples, which measured at 0.093 and 0.092 blood-alcohol concentration. The legal limit in Florida is 0.08.
In the video, La Russa explains to the arresting officer that he had fallen asleep at the wheel because he had had a long day at work and was very tired.
"I've had a long, long day, and I'm tired. That's my explanation," La Russa told the officer.
The professional baseball manager told the officer that he had only had two glasses of wine earlier that evening, according to the tape.
La Russa later apologized for the incident and pleaded guilty to a DUI charge Wednesday.
In a statement dated Nov. 27, La Russa said that he authorized the entry of a guilty plea to the DUI charge "after careful consideration of my attorney's advice, and those I trust."
"I genuinely believe that this decision is in the best interest of all concerned," he added.
La Russa also said in the statement, "I accept full responsibility for my conduct, and assure everyone that I have learned a very valuable lesson and that this will never happen again." (Click here to read the full statement.)
According to state prosecutors, La Russa will serve at least six months' probation, pay a fine of almost $680, complete DUI school and perform 50 hours of community service. His driver's license will be suspended for six months. La Russa will be able to report to a probation officer by mail, because he is out of town a lot with his team.
JUPITER, Fla. -- Jupiter police Wednesday released the dash-camera video that details the drunken driving arrest of St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa on March 22.
On the tape, La Russa, 63, is found asleep inside his running dark blue Ford sport utility vehicle at a stoplight in Jupiter. La Russa's car sat partially in the intersection through two green-light cycles, forcing another driver to go around him, authorities said.
Police told WPBF News 25 that when they approached the SUV, the vehicle was in drive, and La Russa's foot was on the brake pedal. He was awakened after police knocked on the window several times.
Police said La Russa smelled of alcohol and failed standard roadside sobriety tests. Authorities said he gave two breath samples, which measured at 0.093 and 0.092 blood-alcohol concentration. The legal limit in Florida is 0.08.
In the video, La Russa explains to the arresting officer that he had fallen asleep at the wheel because he had had a long day at work and was very tired.
"I've had a long, long day, and I'm tired. That's my explanation," La Russa told the officer.
The professional baseball manager told the officer that he had only had two glasses of wine earlier that evening, according to the tape.
La Russa later apologized for the incident and pleaded guilty to a DUI charge Wednesday.
In a statement dated Nov. 27, La Russa said that he authorized the entry of a guilty plea to the DUI charge "after careful consideration of my attorney's advice, and those I trust."
"I genuinely believe that this decision is in the best interest of all concerned," he added.
La Russa also said in the statement, "I accept full responsibility for my conduct, and assure everyone that I have learned a very valuable lesson and that this will never happen again." (Click here to read the full statement.)
According to state prosecutors, La Russa will serve at least six months' probation, pay a fine of almost $680, complete DUI school and perform 50 hours of community service. His driver's license will be suspended for six months. La Russa will be able to report to a probation officer by mail, because he is out of town a lot with his team.