It just never pays to talk too much to the police, especially when they suspect you’ve been DUI, Driving Under the Influence of alcohol. Nobody knows this better than pro NFL player, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who could have slipped away from police with just a written warning for speeding. Instead of using the right to remain silent, ASJ chose to chit-chat with officers which lead to a DUI charge.
It was about a month ago when former University of Washington Husky and now New York Jets tight end, Austin Seferian-Jenkins was pulled over by Florida Highway Patrol. According to police reports, ASJ was allegedly speeding 75-80 mph in a 55 mph zone. During the questioning, officers discovered that they had pulled over a pro athlete and this may be the reason they were going to let him go with just a written warning, even though they could smell alcohol on this breath. However, Seferian-Jenkins couldn’t keep quiet.
ASJ continued to make small talk with the officers. He talked about passing the DUI field sobriety tests, he apologized to the officers for wasting their time, he spoke about his catches on the football field and recent touchdowns, he continued telling the officers how he wanted to go to his quarterback’s house for a meeting and how he wanted to go home after and watch American Horror Story.
The officers could hear Seferian-Jenkins slurring his words and observed odd behavior. All the babble gave the Highway Patrol time to check his driver’s license which revealed ASJ was required to have an ignition interlock device in his car from a previous DUI charge back in Washington State. This was enough for officers to arrest and charge ASJ for drunk driving.
While on his way to the station, the 6’6″, 262 pound NFL player kept saying he needed to take a, “huge sh*t,” right away. The officer quickly replied not in his new patrol car. ASJ laughed and said he wouldn’t but the officer better hurry and get to the station.
Here at David O Defense, our DUI defense attorneys always recommend very minimal talking with police officers. Talking does not improve a person’s situation, it only makes it worse. A person will not talk their way out of a DUI charge, they will only talk their way into a DUI charge, just as ASJ did!
SHHHH! Don’t talk to cops!