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

[Steve Behrens]

I am so frigg'n dissapointed.  I fully bought into that BS that Tank
was handing out about how he was a changed man, wanted to be the NFL
man of the year..blah, blah, blah....   Throw the frigg'n book at him
for all I care.....

-Behr

On 6/22/07, Victor Waldron (CBFF) <victor at chicagobearsfanforum.com> wrote:
> 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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