University of Tennessee police found walk-on defensive back Vince Faison passed out behind the wheel of his Dodge truck with the engine in gear, his foot on the brake and a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit before officers arrested the 27-year-old former professional baseball player early Saturday morning for driving under the influence.
According to a UT police report released Monday, police received a call around 3:45 a.m. Saturday of someone passed out behind the wheel in the drive-thru of the McDonald’s on Cumberland Avenue.
Police found Faison “slumped behind the wheel of the vehicle,” and then opened the door to check on him.
After noticing the car was in gear and Faison’s foot was on the brake pedal, the officer put the truck in park and tried to verbally wake up Faison, police said.
That attempt failed and police roused Faison only after raising and dropping his hand three times.
Faison consented to a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI after its completion.
He was later taken to the UT police department for a breathalyzer test before being booked into the Knox County Detention Center around 6:20 a.m.
UT police did not release the alcohol influence report, however according to UT police, Faison’s breathalyzer test revealed a blood-alcohol content of 0.22 percent. The legal limit in Tennessee is 0.08 percent.
Under state law, a first-time DUI offender must serve at least 48 hours of the minimum 11-month, 29-day sentence, pay a $350 fine and court costs and loss of license for one year.
On Saturday, UT coach Phillip Fulmer suspended Faison for two games. Faison is the first of five Vols charged by police since Jan. 11 to be suspended.
Faison, 27, enrolled at Tennessee last month after a nine-year professional baseball career that began when the San Diego Padres drafted him with the 20th overall pick of the 1999 draft.
Before being drafted, Faison signed to play football for the University of Georgia.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
Tennessee vs Memphis, Nov. 7, 2009
Meet The Kiffins
Dan Proctor draws Tennessee ...
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.