by SEAN KIMMONS
The dashboard police footage of University of Texas Longhorn running back D.J. Monroe’s arrest early Nov. 15 reveals him swerving along IH-35, failing a sobriety test, vomiting in a patrol car and blaming his stupor on a concussion.
A three-game suspension later, Monroe was reinstated on Monday and will be able to play in the Citi BCS National Championship game on Jan. 7 after his Driving While Intoxicated charge was dropped.
Monroe accepted a plea agreement Dec. 18 for a lesser charge of obstruction of a passageway with deferred adjudication, Hays County District Attorney Sherri Tibbe said.
On Tuesday, the district attorney’s office released an hour-long video to the Hays Free Press of the 20-year-old freshman being pulled over around 1 a.m. just south of exit 217 on IH-35 between Buda and Kyle.
The video shows Monroe veering in and out of lanes in a silver 1996 Buick Park Avenue while being followed by a Hays County Sheriff’s patrol car.
Once pulled over, Deputy Manuel Delarosa initiated a sobriety test to Monroe, who said that he had not been drinking.
Delarosa then asked Monroe if he was required to wear glasses to drive. Monroe replied that he wears sports lenses, while noting his status as a sports star.
“I play football for UT,” Monroe said.
“I didn’t ask you that,” Delarosa replied.
Monroe then attempted to walk a straight line. He also had trouble understanding many of the deputy’s commands.
“Are you deaf?” Delarosa asked.
“No, sir,” Monroe said.
“OK. I was just making sure,” Delarosa said.
Monroe was then handcuffed and arrested.
He told the deputy that he had recently taken painkillers.
“The only thing I took was Tylenol PM because I got a concussion during the Baylor game,” he said.
Delarosa asked, “What about the odor of alcoholic beverage coming from your breath?”
Monroe then admitted that he drank a double shot of vodka, but refused a breathalyzer test.
Minutes later, Monroe leaned over and vomited. The deputy then helped him out of the car to finish.
When he was placed back into the patrol car, Monroe said, “This is so embarrassing.”
Monroe was taken to the Hays County Jail, where he was released the same day on a $3,000 bond. The Longhorns immediately suspended Monroe indefinitely following the incident.
This season, Monroe has 20 rushes for 110 yards and 13 kickoff returns for 474 yards and two touchdowns for the Longhorns. He is the only player in school history to return two kickoffs for TDs in a season, according to the university website.
Related stories:
