Tiger Woods Expresses Shock as He Is Handcuffed After SUV Crash in Florida
In a startling incident, golf legend Tiger Woods was left astonished as he was handcuffed following a crash involving his SUV in Florida, according to recently released body camera footage. The video also captures deputies removing two pills and cash from the golfer's pocket during the arrest.
Deputy Tatiana Levenar of the Martin County Sheriff's Office informed Woods, "I do believe your normal faculties are impaired, and you're under an unknown substance, so at this time you're under arrest for DUI," after conducting a sobriety test on him. The footage provides a detailed look into the events that unfolded on a residential road on Jupiter Island.
Details of the Crash and Arrest
Woods explained to authorities that he was looking at his phone and adjusting the radio station when his speeding Land Rover clipped the back of a truck and rolled onto its side. Fortunately, no one was injured in the crash, which occurred last week. "I'm being arrested?" Woods responded in disbelief as he stood alongside the road, visibly shocked by the turn of events.
After being handcuffed, deputies searched Woods' pockets and discovered two white pills. Woods identified one as "a Norco," referring to a painkiller containing acetaminophen and the opioid hydrocodone. Authorities later confirmed that Woods was in possession of hydrocodone at the time of the incident.
Sobriety Test and Medical History
During the field sobriety test, deputies noted that Woods was limping and wearing a compression sock over his right knee. He disclosed that he had undergone seven back surgeries and over 20 surgeries on his right leg, with his ankle seizing up while walking. "I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden — boom," Woods recounted to deputies as he knelt on a lawn prior to his arrest.
An arrest report highlighted that Woods was hiccuping during questioning and continuously moved his head during one of the sobriety tests, requiring deputies to instruct him several times to keep his head straight. Deputy Levenar wrote, "Based on my observations of Woods, how he performed the exercises and based on my training, knowledge, and experience, I believed that Woods' normal faculties were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle."
Legal Proceedings and Aftermath
Woods, 50, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to suspicion of driving under the influence. He posted a statement later that night, announcing that he is stepping away indefinitely "to seek treatment and focus on my health." Following the crash, Woods agreed to a breathalyser test, which showed no signs of alcohol, but he refused a urine test, leading to his arrest and release on bail eight hours later.
Under a recent change to Florida law, refusing an officer's request to take a breath, blood, or urine test is now considered a misdemeanour, even for a first offence. This legal update adds another layer to the case as Woods navigates the legal system and his personal health challenges.
