Former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has been charged with driving under the influence more than a year after his arrest.
A Washington state trooper stopped Sherman 37, in the early hours of February 24, 2024, for allegedly driving his Tesla 79 miles per hour in a 60 mph zone. Sherman’s “vehicle was observed bouncing back and forth within the lane it was traveling in,” according to probable cause documents obtained by KOMO News.
Sherman told the officer he hadn’t had “a ton” to drink, but had two margaritas.
“I observed Sherman’s eyes to be bloodshot and watery. I also noticed the odor of intoxicants coming from Sherman’s breath,” the trooper wrote. ‘”Sherman was also observed swaying back and forth while the [field sobriety] test was being administered.”
The five-time Pro Bowler also refused multiple preliminary breath tests.
“While talking to Sherman, I noticed him to be argumentative and display mood swings, as at some points he would be compliant and other times not compliant,” the document reads.
The trooper filed a search warrant for a legal blood draw and Sherman was taken to a local hospital for the tests.
As for the delay in his charge, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office did not receive the test results until Tuesday, June 17.
“It is not uncommon for blood-test results to take months to return from the State Patrol Crime lab, regardless of the misdemeanor DUI defendant,” KCPAO Director of Communications Casey McNerthney told KOMO News.
A DUI arrest in Washington is typically charged as a gross misdemeanor, giving authorities up to two years to prosecute, according to the state’s statute of limitations. Sherman will be arraigned June 30 at the King County District Court in Redmond, Washington.
Because Sherman had a previous DUI charge in the past 10 years, he was booked at a King County jail the night of his arrest. Sherman was also arrested in 2021 and pleaded guilty to multiple misdemeanor charges after he was accused of being under the influence when he allegedly broke into his in-laws’ home after speeding through a construction zone.
As part of a plea deal, Sherman agreed to pay court fees, do community service and be under court supervision for up to two years.
“I’m grateful for the support of my family and friends . . . and grateful to have the conversations I’ve had,” he said in court at the time. “I’m grateful for the community we have and the way people continue to accept you’re a flawed human being and made a mistake.”
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