Speeding, erratic driving led to Geno Smith DUI arrest
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BELLEVUE, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Geno Smith’s arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence came after the Washington State Patrol pulled him over for going 96 mph in a 60 mph zone and driving erratically across several lanes of traffic, according to an arrest report released Tuesday.
Smith was arrested Monday morning following the Seahawks’ return from Arizona after their last game of the season. According to the arrest report, the state trooper “detected a strong odor of intoxicants and observed the driver had bloodshot, watery eyes.” Smith told the state trooper he had some wine earlier in the night but had stopped drinking 90 minutes before he was pulled over.
Smith declined to take a preliminary breath test, and a judge issued a search warrant for a blood draw. Smith was taken to a hospital where he became agitated before the blood draw, even with the Seahawks’ director of team security present to try to calm Smith down, according to the report. Restraints were used to complete the process, troopers wrote.
Smith then was transported to the King County Correctional Facility. He was released on $1,000 bail later Monday.
Smith’s attorney, Jon Fox, issued a statement Monday that said his client is cooperating with investigators. “I hope that an open mind can be kept by all as the facts are ascertained,” Fox said.
Smith, a West Virginia product, just completed his third season with the Seahawks and had the most extensive playing time of his tenure in Seattle. He appeared in four games and started three — including against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 17 — while Russell Wilson was out because of finger surgery. Smith threw for 702 yards and five touchdowns with one interception.
He is on a one-year contract and will be a free agent after the end of the current NFL season.
Smith had appeared in just one game during his first two seasons with Seattle.