Jerramy Stevens - NFL football's tight end faces drunken driving, marijuana charges
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens was accused of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana after police stopped his car in downtown Scottsdale early Tuesday.
A Scottsdale patrol officer noticed the car travelling erratically and made the stop about 2:15 a.m. Stevens, an unrestricted free agent after five seasons with Seattle, told the officer he had "four of five margaritas" at Salty Seniorita, a downtown Scottsdale bar.
According to the police report, the officer smelled alcohol and noticed Stevens' eyes were "bloodshot and watery and half-closed. Spoke with slow, slurred speech."
As he got out of the vehicle, the report said, Stevens "dropped his cell phone and wallet on the ground, bent down to pick them up, then stutter-stepped to walk" toward the officer.
A second officer arrived and began a field sobriety test, but after Stevens "almost fell down" during the "walk-and-turn" test, the player declined to participate in any further testing.
Police said they found a "leafy green substance" believed to be marijuana in Stevens' pocket.
Stevens refused a breathalyzer test and declined to give a blood sample until police obtained a warrant about 5 a.m., the report said. Stevens was booked and posted bail and an initial court appearance was set for April 2. The blood test results haven't yet been released.
Stevens has had other run-ins with the law.
In June 2003, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving in a plea deal after being stopped in the Seattle suburb of Medina on investigation of drunken driving. He got a two-day jail sentence for that offence.
He received another five days in jail for violating his probation after he drove into a nursing home in 2000 in a hit-and-run case. Stevens was a student at Washington at the time of that incident.
The six-foot-seven, 265-pound player was a first-round draft pick by the Seahawks, the 28th selection overall, in 2002. He had a career-best 45 catches for 554 yards, a record for Seattle tight ends, in the Seahawks' 2005 Super Bowl season.
Last season, Stevens caught 22 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns.
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Jerramy Stevens - test doubles DUI limit
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Tight end Jerramy Stevens' blood-alcohol content was more than double Arizona's legal limit after he was arrested in that state last week, registering 0.204 percent, according to results released by the Scottsdale Police Department.
Arizona's legal limit is 0.08 percent. A blood-alcohol content of 0.15 percent or more is considered an extreme DUI offense in Arizona, according to Sgt. Mark Clark of the Scottsdale Police. An extreme DUI can bring a 30-day jail sentence, according to the Arizona Republic.
Stevens, 27, was arrested in Scottsdale early March 13 and faces charges of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana. He has a hearing scheduled for April 2 in Arizona.
Stevens told the officer he had four or five margaritas, and initially agreed to a sobriety test. He stopped midway through the first test and refused further tests and also declined a breathalyzer test. Police needed to acquire a warrant before drawing blood at the jail.
Stevens played for the Seahawks the past five seasons, but he is currently an unrestricted free-agent. Seahawks President Tim Ruskell said Stevens is not expected back with the team.
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Jerramy Stevens - Jury finds Tampa Bay Buccaneers
tight end guilty of DUI
Sept. 7, 2007
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — A jury found Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Jerramy Stevens guilty Friday of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Stevens was arrested last March after police stopped his car in downtown Scottsdale. Police said Stevens smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. The 27-year-old went to trial on three DUI charges.
A jury began hearing the case Wednesday and delivered its verdict Friday morning - guilty on all three counts, said Mike Phillips, a Scottsdale spokesman.
Stevens faces a jail sentence of at least 30 days under an Arizona law for extreme intoxication, where a driver has a blood alcohol content of .15 per cent or higher. The legal limit in Arizona is .08 per cent. Stevens' measured .20 per cent when he was arrested.
Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said earlier this week he expects Stevens to play Sunday.
Court officials said sentencing is set for Oct. 2.
Stevens has had other run-ins with the law.
In June 2003, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving in a plea deal after being stopped in the Seattle suburb of Medina for investigation of drunken driving. He received a two-day jail sentence.
He received another five days in jail for violating his probation after he drove into a nursing home in 2000 in a hit-and-run case. Stevens was a student at Washington at the time.
The six-foot-seven, 265-pounder was a first-round draft pick by the Seahawks, the 28th selection overall, in 2002. He had a career-best 45 catches for 554 yards, a record for Seattle tight ends, in the Seahawks' 2005 Super Bowl season.
Last season, Stevens caught 22 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns.
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