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Rough outing Dodgers' Perez arrested for drunken driving
Posted: Sunday March 12, 2000 10:28 PM
VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Pitcher Carlos Perez of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who apparently fell asleep at the wheel of his car, was released from jail Sunday after his arrest for investigation of drunken driving. Police Chief James Gabbard said in a statement that officers received a call about a vehicle in which the driver appeared unconscious at a traffic light late Saturday night. Police said they found Perez asleep. It was determined that no medical emergency was involved, Gabbard said, and Perez was arrested. After eight hours in jail, the 29-year-old left-hander was released on $500 bond. "I just fell asleep," Perez said before the Dodgers lost to the Cardinals 7-5 in 10 innings Sunday. "That's the only thing I can say. Nobody got hurt, I didn't hit nobody. It's a mistake. Everyone can make a mistake. It's the first time in happened. I can guarantee it's not going to happen again." Dodgers chairman Bob Daly said Perez "seemed to be remorseful about it." "He said he's not going to do it again," Daly said. "I'm happy nobody got hurt and nothing else happened, but (the news) is not what I'd like to have with my eggs in the morning." According to the arrest report, officers Charles McFarland and Chris Cox found Perez and "noticed the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage about his breath and person." "I also noted that his eyes were glassy and bloodshot," Cox said in the report. "I asked Perez if he had been drinking. He replied, 'Not many.' He then said, 'A couple at Riverside Cafe.'" Perez refused to submit to breath, urine or blood tests, according to the report. When asked to exit the vehicle to perform some field sobriety tasks, Perez kept his left hand on the car for support as he headed toward the rear of the vehicle, and couldn't keep his balance on a nine-step walk-and-turn, the report said. The Dodgers have their spring training camp in Vero Beach, and Perez has had two rocky appearances on the mound in the past week. He gave up four runs in three innings Saturday as the Dodgers lost an exhibition game to St. Louis. The 29 year-old left-hander was one of the National League's top young pitchers with Montreal before joining the Dodgers. But his record was 2-10 with a 7.43 ERA last season. He took out his frustration, slugging a water cooler with a bat in the Dodger dugout, before he was sent to the minors. "It was a terrible year," Perez said in an interview two weeks ago. He pitched four consecutive complete games with the Dodgers - two of them shutouts -- at the end of the previous season after being acquired from Montreal. Perez signed a $15.5 million, three-year contract with the Dodgers after the 1998 season. "There were a bunch of problems, mechanical problems that affected my velocity," Perez said of his struggles last season. "I'm glad to forget about 1999. My velocity and location are much better, I think it's going to be a great year for me."
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