Willis arrested for DUI

[mets2k]

Willis out of jail after drunken driving arrest in Miami Beach - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

MIAMI (AP) -- Florida Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis was released from jail Friday after being charged with drunken driving when a police officer noticed him stumbling and confused outside his car in Miami Beach.

Willis told reporters gathered outside Miami-Dade County jail that he would try to set a better example for his fans: "I'll do a better job."

The 2003 NL Rookie of the Year was arrested around 4 a.m. after an officer noticed he had double-parked his black Bentley along a South Beach street lined with nightclubs, according to a police report. The officer said he saw Willis urinate on the street, so he later approached him after responding to an emergency call.

The officer said that Willis had watery eyes, slurred speech and appeared "confused and disoriented."

"He couldn't keep his balance, he had a strong smell of alcohol," police spokesman Bobby Hernandez said.

The 24-year-old Willis was arrested and taken to a police station, where he refused a breath test, Hernandez said. He spent more than six hours in jail before being released on $1,000 bail, jail spokeswoman Chandra Gavin Dinkins said.

[bigheadache]

He's lucky he didn't rap his car around a tree. A DUI can be a huge burden for the average person. Less so for the professional athlete. Hopefully it will be a wakeup call and the behavior won't be repeated.

[mets2k]

From rotoworld.com:

Dontrelle Willis has pleaded not guilty to drunken driving in Miami Beach, his attorney said Wednesday.

Willis entered the plea in writing and did not appear, attorney Robert Reiff said. No word yet on when he's due in court.

[mets2k]