Updated at 12:22 p.m., Saturday, July 21, 2007
Baseball: Marlins' Olsen arrested on DUI, other charges
Associated Press
AVENTURA, Fla. Troubled pitcher Scott Olsen of the Florida Marlins was arrested early today after refusing to pull over and getting into a fight with police officers.Olsen was booked into the Miami-Dade county jail on charges of driving under the influence, resisting an officer with violence and fleeing and eluding a police officer. He was released Saturday afternoon on $11,000 bond.
It was the latest in a string of problems for the 23-year-old left-hander, who returned to the Marlins on Friday night following a two-game suspension without pay after a confrontation with teammate and fellow pitcher Sergio Mitre. Olsen got the win in a 10-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
The pitcher was at the stadium before the team's game Saturday against the Reds but brushed off questions about the arrest.
"There's a legal process that has to be followed and we're going to take all the necessary precautions and steps and let the legal process pave the way. We're going to have to work on it, and that's all I really have to say," Olsen told The Associated Press.
The Marlins also released a statement saying they would "let the legal process run its course" before commenting further.
"As an organization, we take this very seriously and are extremely disappointed," the statement read.
Olsen received a black eye last season from his friend and former teammate, reliever Randy Messenger, in an off-the-field confrontation in St. Petersburg. Olsen also got into dugout disputes with teammate Miguel Cabrera and then-manager Joe Girardi, who grabbed him by the jersey during a discussion.
This year, Olsen was fined an unspecified amount in June for making an obscene gesture toward fans in Milwaukee.
Police Lt. Michael Bentolila said Olsen was arrested in the Miami suburb of Aventura, where an officer clocked him driving 48 mph in a 35 mph zone and attempted to pull him over at about 3:40 a.m.
Olsen continued to drive about one mile, running a stop sign before stopping at his Aventura home, Bentolila said.
The pitcher got out of his car and sat down on a plastic chair in front of his home. When backup officers arrived and tried to arrest him, Bentolila said Olsen kicked at the officers, who used a stun gun on the 6-foot-5 pitcher.
Olsen then failed a field sobriety test and refused an alcohol breath test, Bentolila said. A booking photo showed Olsen had two scrapes on his forehead over his right eye.
Olsen will earn $380,000 this season, his third with the Marlins.