Cops claim they found open bottle of alcohol in Tony Romo’s car after QB said he’d had ‘zero’ drinks during OWI arrest
Wisconsin police discovered an open alcohol container on the passenger side of Tony Romo’s Jeep during his July 23 arrest on suspicion of drunk driving, according to citations released by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was arrested on suspicion of OWI after Milwaukee County officers pulled him over for a traffic violation last week following a golf event. Romo, who now works as CBS Sports’ lead NFL commentator, refused a breathalyzer test and later failed a field sobriety test before being charged.
When asked by officers, Romo insisted he had not consumed any alcohol that day prior to his arrest.
He also told officers he was in a rush to visit his grandparents, all of whom are actually deceased, according to public obituaries reviewed by Sporting News.
The Daily Mail has sought further comment from Romo’s attorney on the open container of alcohol that was allegedly discovered in his car.
The California Post was the first to report the open-container allegation.
Romo smirked in his mugshot after being arrested for OWI in Milwaukee following a golf event
Tony Romo insisted on doing stretches before completing a police sobriety test after his arrest
Romo’s OWI charge carries a $1,066 fine on top of the $235 penalty he received for his moving violation. He is due back in court on September 21.
Remarkable footage of a rambling and glassy-eyed Romo failing the sobriety tests was obtained by The Daily Mail on Tuesday night.
The 46-year-old, who is now paid $18m-a-year as a color commentator, repeatedly complained about pain stemming from a pair of back surgeries and even asked officers to let him out of the police cruiser so he could relieve his discomfort.
Before starting the series of exercises, Romo leaned up against the hood of the police car and stretched out his back.
‘Go ahead dude,’ the female officer tells him.
Even as one officer tried to explain how he should perform the various tasks, a disinterested and distracted Romo continued to stretch out his back.
Romo repeatedly interrupted the officer as she tried to explain the exercises by asking her to repeat herself or perform demonstrations.
When Romo is asked whether he’s willing to submit to a breath test, he did not hesitate to refuse: ‘Oh no, we’re not doing that. I’ve heard from all the lawyers “don’t ever do that.”‘
Romo initially appeared surprised that he’s been pulled over at the start of the footage. The officer told him she stopped him for ‘unsafe passing on the right’ and ‘cutting across the gore’.
Footage of a rambling and glassy-eyed Romo failing police sobriety tests emerged on Tuesday
The former Cowboys star can be seen talking over the officer and failing to grasp instructions
He told the female officer he’s coming from the golf course and is on his way to ‘meet grandma and grandpa’. It later emerges they are waiting for him to catch a flight.
After the officer returns from checking Romo’s driver’s license, she bluntly asks him how many drinks he’s had. Romo replies: ‘Zero.’
The officer then tells Romo she wants to carry out a field sobriety test, causing Romo to scramble for his cell phone. He initially refuses to get out of his Jeep and says he’s going to call his lawyer and film their interaction.
When he eventually does step out of his car, Romo asks the officer: ‘Because I’m coming from a golf course you think I’m drunk?’
The officer then tells Romo he’s being detained for OWI and she will take him to a safer place for his testing before placing handcuffs on the ex-quarterback.