[CBFF] CT story on Tank (Re: Tank Johnson pulled over in Arizona)

[Victor Waldron (CBFF)]

Tank Johnson stopped by police in Arizona
Bears investigating Friday morning incident
By David Haugh
Tribune staff reporter

June 22, 2007, 4:30 PM CDT

Before leaving the field Wednesday after the Bears' final off-season 
workout before training camp in five weeks, coach Lovie Smith talked 
about the parting words of wisdom he left with his players.

"The same advice I give them always," Smith said. "We can improve our 
team during the break. We've gotten in this position because guys work 
hard, and that's what we're going to do. … Of course we have a lot of 
time [so] we'd like to continue to stay out of trouble."

Tank Johnson was among the players there who heard Smith. But it's 
unclear whether Johnson listened in light of what happened early Friday 
morning.

In what is becoming a ritual at Halas Hall, the Bears began gathering 
information Friday about a police incident involving Johnson that could 
affect the length of his eight-game NFL suspension—if not affect his 
standing with the team.

Gilbert, Ariz., police pulled Johnson over at 3:30 a.m. Friday and 
issued a citation for "being impaired to the slightest degree," 
according to police spokesman Sgt. Andrew Duncan. Police initially 
stopped Johnson at the corner of Gilbert and Park avenues for going 40 
m.p.h. in a 25 m.p.h. zone when the officer on the scene "made 
observations that led him to believe Johnson was impaired," according to 
Duncan.

Police didn't release any information related to where Johnson had been 
before being pulled over.

Johnson was taken to the Gilbert police station, where blood was drawn 
to determine his blood-alcohol content. Results of those tests aren't 
expected for up to two weeks, Duncan said. In Arizona, like most states, 
the legal limit for being under the influence is having a blood-alcohol 
content of .08.

Johnson has not been charged with DUI. If Johnson exceeded .08, he could 
be charged with driving under the influence. If he wasn't past the legal 
limit, Johnson still faces the charge of "being impaired to the 
slightest degree," according to Duncan. Gilbert prosecutors also might 
decide not to file any charges if blood tests reveal a level lower than .08.

Driving while being impaired to the slightest degree is a Class 1 
misdemeanor in Arizona. Bruce Owens of the Gilbert prosecutor's office 
said the minimum penalty for such an offense is one day in jail, up to 
$1,800 in fines, a suspended license for at least 30 days, alcohol 
counseling, a Mothers Against Drunk Driving course and unsupervised 
probation. During the terms of the probation, if convicted, Johnson 
wouldn't be allowed to consume alcohol.

The officer at the scene reported Johnson "was very cooperative," and 
was released under his own recognizance after the blood tests, police said.

The Bears issued a statement that only confirmed their awareness of the 
situation.

"We are aware Tank was pulled over early Friday morning in Arizona," the 
statement read. "We currently are gathering facts regarding the 
incident. We will withhold further comment until we have more information."

NFL Vice President of Public Relations Greg Aiello said the league would 
have no comment on the matter either.

Johnson's lawyer, Lorna Propes, had no comment Friday afternoon and said 
she similarly was in the process of finding out exactly what happened. 
Attempts to reach Johnson and his family in Arizona were unsuccessful.

Minimally, the incident likely will cost Johnson two games. NFL 
Commissioner Roger Goodell said earlier this month that Johnson's 
eight-game suspension could be reduced to six if he had "no further 
adverse involvement with law enforcement."

Getting pulled over at 3:30 a.m. for speeding and being under the 
suspicion of DUI likely would qualify as "adverse involvement."

If charged or convicted even of the lesser charge of "being impaired," 
Johnson could face an additional suspension from either the league or 
the team that, in effect, could wipe out his 2007 season. In other 
words, Johnson's decision to stay out late during his first night home 
could impact the Bears' depth at defensive tackle in their quest to 
return to the Super Bowl.

Prosecutors in Lake and Cook counties, where Johnson faced legal trouble 
after a raid on his Gurnee home earlier this year, said Friday's 
incident in Arizona would not affect him in Illinois.

"The case is over and he served his time," Cook County Assistant State's 
Atty. Rick Cenar said.

In May, Johnson completed 60 days of a 120-day sentence in Cook County 
Jail after pleading guilty to violating his probation on a 2005 weapons 
conviction.

Johnson also pleaded guilty in May in Lake County to possession of a 
firearm without a valid Illinois Firearm Owner's Identification Card, a 
misdemeanor charge that could have carried a sentence of up to a year in 
jail.

In exchange for his plea, Johnson was sentenced to 45 days in jail with 
credit for time served in Cook County. He also was ordered to donate 
$2,500 to the Gurnee Exchange Club and another $2,500 to the Gurnee 
Police Department's D.A.R.E. program.

"Our case is closed," Lake County Assistant State's Atty. Mary Stanton 
said. "He's not on probation or conditional discharge."

If the Bears are fed up with dealing with Johnson after giving him 
multiple chances to return in good standing, they might consider how to 
address his future with the team. Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo 
have been Johnson's biggest supporters but must be disappointed with 
Johnson putting himself in such a position.

Johnson had just returned to his home state of Arizona after the Bears 
wrapped up organized team activities Wednesday.


Kenny Claxton wrote:
> Possible DUI.
>
> On 6/22/07, mom2iancal <senzigx4 at charter.net> wrote:
>   
>> Let's hope he was maybe just speeding....???
>>
>>
>> ~A Morning  Without Coffee is Sleep~
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Kenny Claxton" <kenny.claxton at gmail.com>
>> To: "Chicago Bears List" <post at chicagobearsfanforum.com>
>> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 3:42 PM
>> Subject: [CBFF] Tank Johnson pulled over in Arizona
>>
>>
>>     
>>> Developing
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