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Reporter charged with DUI
By AMY WIMMER, Times Staff Writer TAMPA -- Rick Stroud, a sportswriter who covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the St. Petersburg Times, was arrested Saturday and charged with driving under the influence. According to an arrest report, Stroud declined to take field sobriety tests or a Breathalyzer. A Tampa police officer wrote in the arrest report that Stroud had "red and glassy eyes and a distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath." Jack Sheppard, the Times' assistant managing editor for sports, said the paper could offer little comment until it pieces together details of the arrest. "We're trying to determine all the facts so that we can completely understand what happened," Sheppard said. Stroud was arrested at 4:50 a.m. at N Dale Mabry Highway and Beach Street W. According to the arrest report, he was pulled over after failing to yield the right of way. Stroud, 42, who lives in Palm Harbor, has worked for the Times for 19 years. He has covered the Bucs since 1990, and previously worked in the Times' Clearwater and Pasco County offices. "I regret any embarrassment this may have caused my family, friends and the St. Petersburg Times," Stroud said in a statement Saturday. Stroud was released Saturday on $500 bail. -- Times staff writer Amy Herdy contributed to this report.
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From the Times |
