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http://www.cbs47.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=947494EC-B328-4B69-A61C-A6671E46DBD0
Just before 2am this morning, starting left tackle Khalif Barnes was arrested off JTB for driving under the influence of alcohol, and traveling
101mph in a 60mph speed zone.
The arresting officer noted when he approached the car, Barnes had an odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath, and he also noticed his eyes were watery and bloodshot. Barnes agreed to a field sobriety test, and the officer stated he exhibited clues of impairment during that test. According to the report, Barnes stated he "had a Hennessy and coke at the club". He also told officers he only "had a sip at the show". Barnes also told police the odor of alcohol they smelled was from the dip he had in his mouth. 3 other people were in the car during the incident. All three are from California. Barnes himself is from San Diego, born there April 21, 1982. Officers say
Barnes was tested with a breathalyzer just after 3am.
He blew a .125 and a .121. The legal limit for driving with alcohol in your system is .08 in the state of Florida.
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It is week 10 and with 10 arrests the NFL is maintaining its one player arrest/week average.
Edit for update:
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/032107/met_8752250.shtml
Moments after his drunken-driving arrest in November, Jaguars offensive tackle Khalif Barnes launched into an obscenity-laced rant against Jacksonville police, perceived racism and playing in a "hick town."
"This is unbelievable, man, unbelievable being a pro athlete in Jacksonville. I can't wait to get out of here. Can't wait," Barnes said while handcuffed in the back of a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office patrol car. "Especially if you're black."
About 20 minutes later, still in the patrol car, he said, "Of all the places in the -- world that I came to this -- hick town. They -- hate us here.
"Why you even want to have a pro team here? What's the use? They don't even -- respect you."
Barnes' comments were taped by a video recorder in the car. A copy was obtained Tuesday by the Times-Union from the State Attorney's Office under Florida's public records law.
The newspaper also obtained the police recording of Barnes' late-night traffic stop and field sobriety tests, which are the subject of a motion by Barnes' lawyer to dismiss the charges. The motion was to have been argued in court Thursday, but the hearing has been postponed.
In the motion, attorney David Barksdale argues that police didn't have enough probable cause to arrest Barnes based on the field tests, a point the 24-year-old player repeatedly argued during his ride to the jail.
"If you get this on tape, this is very unfair. I passed all their tests," Barnes said immediately after being handcuffed and placed in the patrol car off Butler Boulevard.
Barnes declined comment, but his lawyer said he regrets the statements.
"Khalif has never been arrested before. Because he was upset, he said some things he wishes he hadn't said," Barksdale said. "Without question, Khalif loves Jacksonville, is excited about the upcoming season and hopes to finish his career as a Jaguar."
Jaguars spokesman Dan Edwards said the team hadn't seen the video and couldn't comment on its contents, which were described to him. The Times-Union offered to show him the video, but that offer was not accepted.
Co-owner Wayne Weaver responded in an e-mail that the Jaguars dealt with the drunken-driving incident appropriately.
"He understood that his conduct was unacceptable, and he apologized for embarrassing himself and his team," Weaver said. He didn't address Barnes' comments on the video.
Officer D.E. Cullen pulled Barnes over Nov. 10, saying his 2007 Mercedes passed him doing 101 mph near Butler and Gate Parkway. In the video, Barnes denied driving that fast and said his three passengers could confirm that.
Cullen said in his report that he smelled alcohol and noticed Barnes' eyes were watery and bloodshot. Barnes agreed to a field sobriety test and admitted having one drink at a club before the 10:30 p.m. traffic stop. He told Cullen the odor was from a bourbon-flavored tobacco dip in his mouth.
Later, the 309-pound lineman said he struggled with one part of the test because his legs were tired from practice that day. He didn't appear to slur his words. He insisted he wasn't drunk.
"You're lying," he told Cullen when the officer told Barnes he appeared impaired. "You're like a Republican politician right now."
Police said a blood-alcohol test administered at the jail showed Barnes' level was .12 percent. Florida considers a driver impaired at .08. Barnes was benched for that weekend's game, a 13-10 loss to Houston, and coach Jack Del Rio admonished him publicly.
"I thought he acted extremely selfishly from being out that late in the first place on a Friday night, to putting himself and other people in our community at risk," Del Rio said in his post-game news conference.
Weaver said Tuesday that Barnes was fined the maximum amount but wouldn't say how much. He said Barnes received counseling as a follow-up to the discipline.
Barnes appeared cooperative before his arrest, but his tone changed rapidly afterward. Though he never threatened the officer, he repeatedly blamed his arrest on racism and called Cullen a "*** devil that hates all colored people." He accused Cullen of arresting him "just because I'm a Jaguar."
"I can't wait to get out of your nice, wholesome city ... your racial equality city," Barnes said during the 50-minute video.
Cullen didn't respond to most of Barnes' diatribe and didn't appear on the video to provoke the situation.
Barnes was the third Jaguar arrested on traffic charges in a two-month span last season. He questioned why police focused on him and his teammates instead of criminals responsible for the city's high murder rate.
"You're going to make your quota this month, and how are you going to do it? You're going to get a Jag player," Barnes said.
Cornerback Brian Williams also used racial slurs after his September drunken-driving arrest but apologized a few days later. Williams, who initially pleaded no contest, also is fighting the charges in court.
Video of arrest can be found here:
http://cgi.jacksonville.com/multimedia/video/070320174851.shtml