Celebrities under the influence

How do public figures explain a DUI charge? Some do, some don't, and some you wish hadn't even tried.

By BILL DURYEA
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 24, 2002

Alexander

Public figures charged with driving under the influence must answer to more than a judge. Their celebrity often requires that they explain themselves to the public.

The timing of this statement varies. Sometimes it is delivered by a flack before the hangover has even worn off. Sometimes it comes in a rush of gratitude after a judge's lenient sentencing. Sometimes the only explanation the public ever hears is the one made at the scene to the arresting officer.

The statements vary in content, too. Some express abject contrition. Others? Well, let's just say shame is not in every actor's repertoire.

Wednesday morning, local radio and television personality Nancy Alexander returned to the airwaves for the first time after her DUI arrest Friday. During her Nancy and Mike Show on WMTX-FM 100.7, Alexander chose a "teachable moment" tone.

"A few days ago I made the worst life decision ever and I did it in front of all of you. Being a public person means I get to share professional victories and in this case personal defeats," Alexander said.

"The hardest pill to swallow is that I gambled with my children's mother's life. The fact I'm even capable of doing that is terrifying. Fortunately no one else got hurt.

"I hope that you can take the my experience with you and in so doing you'll never face the overwhelming remorse, shame and possible tragedy that drinking and driving will bring."

This is how some other celebrities have handled the same situation.

The Checkers speech

Diaz

In November 2000, Ron Diaz, a morning radio show host at WTBT-FM 103.5, was charged with fleeing and eluding and DUI. While a St. Petersburg police officer was checking his driver's license and registration, Diaz drove away. Police arrested him at home several hours later. Diaz issued this statement shortly after the arrest.

"I cooperated with the officer by giving him my license, registration and insurance card. Then I leaned over to the seat next to me to check my bag from Checkers to make sure that the kid put both the burgers and dogs in. Anyone that knows me, knows that I rate food somewhere slightly above breathing.

"It was my understanding that I was free to go. So I drove two blocks to my residence in an orderly and lawful fashion. I went in the house and sat down to enjoy my burgers with some beers. Sometime later, two officers knocked on my door to arrest me for fleeing. The burgers and beers were great, and hunger isn't a crime!"

Diaz's statement said the DUI charge resulted from drinking the beers only after he arrived at his house. "I feel confident that I will be exonerated," the statement said, adding that Diaz does not condone drinking and driving.

In December, Diaz pleaded no contest to misdemeanor DUI.

Surprisingly mature

Rodman

Professional basketball player Dennis Rodman's blood-alcohol level was .15 percent when he was arrested Dec. 22, 1999, after leaving a shopping and restaurant complex in California. In California, the level at which impairment is presumed is .08 percent. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI and voluntarily entered an alcohol education program.

"I know some people were upset about the arrest, but I think the police were just doing their job," Rodman said through his attorney Paul Meyer.

Sung in the key of me

Bertie Higgins, the pop music star who sang the 1982 hit Key Largo, was charged with DUI involving property damage and personal injury, fleeing and eluding police and other crimes after a February 1996 incident in Pasco County.

Higgins

"F--- you," Higgins reportedly told a Florida Highway Patrol trooper who questioned him after Higgins hit another car and then rammed his car into a Pasco sheriff's deputy's cruiser after a chase on U.S. 19.

After he posted bail, Higgins issued the first of several statements.

"My only concern in this situation is any adverse effect it may have on my family and anyone else involved. I'm currently working on a new album called Sand and Foam. I will continue working on that album because that's what I do is make music for the people."

Later, Higgins called a reporter back after watching a television news report about the accident.

"Those two girls that I hit, I just hope to God they're all right," he said. "Just tell the family I'm sorry."

He called a third time to apologize to the deputies involved in the incident: "If I put them in jeopardy in any way, I'm terribly sorry. That's how I feel. That's how I really feel. I apologize to the police officers for any problems I might have caused."

He pleaded no contest to drunken driving charges and was sentenced to four months in jail.

Old-fashioned sincerity

Merryday

In January 1994, U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday was arrested for DUI near his home in Palatka. A Florida State trooper saw Merryday driving erratically near construction on U.S. 17. Merryday, then a federal judge for two years, declined interviews but offered an unambiguous statement after he was released from jail.

"I made an inexcusable and dangerous mistake in judgment, for which I accept full responsibility," he said. "I apologize to my family and friends, as well as the public, for this incident."

Merryday vowed that his first offense would be his last. He said he was "committed unalterably to remaining free at all times from any and all intoxicants."

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year's probation, ordered to pay $688 in fines, perform 50 hours of community service, attend DUI school and give up his driver's license for six months.

It's a star thing. You wouldn't understand.

Priestley

Jason Priestley, former star of Beverly Hills 90210, was charged in December 1999 with suspicion of drunken driving after crashing his Porsche into a utility pole and a parked car on a Hollywood street, police said. Priestley, 30, was not injured, but 27-year-old Chad Cook, who was riding with the actor, broke an arm, a Los Angeles police spokesman said.

The actor said the police had tested his blood for alcohol, but added: "They do that to everybody, especially if you're a celebrity."

Priestley pleaded no contest and served five days in jail.

How can something so right be so wrong?

Strawberry

Former baseball star Darryl Strawberry faced the possibility of prison time in September 2000 for violating his probation when he ran into the back of a car at a stoplight and then clipped a traffic sign with his Ford Expedition.

Before he was sentenced, Strawberry told Hillsborough Circuit Judge Florence Foster the 9 a.m. accident had occurred on his way to see his probation officer.

"I was basically trying to do the right thing. I was trying to stay on the right road with my probation officer. . . . Basically, I just blacked out. I made a mistake."

Strawberry was sentenced to two years of house arrest.

More teachable moments

Tim Allen, the star of the television series Home Improvement, agreed to make an educational video as part of his punishment for a DUI in Pontiac, Mich., in 1997.

Allen

"I was back here not too long ago and had a good time with some good friends, then I made a mistake -- and a big one," Allen said in the 12-minute video.

"My inexcusable lapse in judgment is a mistake that is embarrassing to myself, my family and my associates," he said after his sentencing.

"I have learned from this experience, and I am fortunate that my family and associates have forgiven me."

The American Express defense

Lyonne

American Pie star Natasha Lyonne was arrested last August in Miami Beach and charged with drunken driving and leaving the scene after police say she crashed her rental car into a road sign on Collins Avenue and took off.

Lyonne, 22, exited the car saying, "I'm a movie star," according to police.

The officers weren't familiar with her work, and she was taken to jail.

Still more teachable moments

After a December 2000 arrest for driving under the influence, actor Shannen Doherty spoke to teenagers around Los Angeles.

Doherty

"Thank God, I did not injure anybody," Doherty said during an appearance at a Thousand Oaks teen center. "There hasn't been a day gone by that I haven't wanted to relive that decision to get in my car.

"It's probably one of the most humiliating, degrading experiences you can ever go through," said Doherty, who pleaded no contest in April. "It's affected my career, it's affected the way I look at myself."

"You want to make sure you say the right thing and impress upon them how important this is," she told People. "I hope a big mistake in my life can be used to make sure nobody else makes that mistake."

-- Times researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this story.

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