Ty Lawson, point guard for the Denver Nuggets, was arrested last Friday on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Local affiliate NBC 9 News reports that Lawson was picked up on the 3400 block of Park Avenue West, just past 1 a.m. on January 23, after police found him driving 61 miles per hour on a 35 mph road. When an officer pulled over Lawson and reportedly noticed some of the telltale signs of intoxication — including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol on his breath — he had the Nuggets player perform a field sobriety test, which he agreed to and subsequently failed. After Lawson refused to submit to a blood draw test, the officer arrested him, charging him with DUI.
According to the Denver Police's probable cause document, Lawson had admitted to drinking alcohol before driving that night. He also later admitted to officers that he had previously been arrested for DUI, albeit in Missouri. The Nuggets point guard was charged with DUI in Colorado, speeding and reckless driving. For its part, the Denver Nuggets had little to say about the situation.
"We have been made aware of an incident involving Ty Lawson early this morning," Tim Connelly, the organization's General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, said in a press release. "Per team policy and out of respect for the legal process, we will have no further comment at this time."
Professional athlete or not, anyone found driving under the influence in Colorado will be charged with DUI all the same, resulting in significant penalties such as legal fees, fines, license revocation and even a prison sentence. If you find yourself facing such accusations, talk to The Orr Law Firm for an expert Colorado DUI attorney that will work tirelessly to defend your case.