Justin Blackmon arrested in Stillwater on complaint of aggravated DUI
BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Sunday, June 03, 2012
6/03/12 at 4:24 PM
Former Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon was arrested on a complaint of aggravated DUI early Sunday in Stillwater after registering a blood-alcohol level of .24, which is three times the legal limit.
About 3 a.m., a Stillwater police officer attempted to pull over a white Chevy Tahoe for going 60 mph in a 35 mph zone and driving left of center, according to the police report. The vehicle failed to yield for four blocks before stopping at a gas-station parking lot near the intersection of McElroy and Perkins roads, the report states.
When the driver, identified as Blackmon, was contacted, the officer smelled alcohol and observed Blackmon was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and glassy and blood-shot eyes, according to the report.
Blackmon, the only occupant in the vehicle, admitted to consuming alcohol before driving and was taken to the Stillwater jail, where he agreed to take a Breathalyzer test, the report states.
After registering a .24, Blackmon, 22, was booked into Payne County Jail about 10 a.m. and was released at 12:45 p.m. on a $1,000 bond, a jail spokesman said.
According to Oklahoma law, aggravated DUI is defined as the driver's blood-alcohol level being at .15 or higher. It can be either a misdemeanor or a felony.
During the April 26 first round of the NFL draft, Blackmon was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the fifth pick overall. In Oklahoma State football history, only two players were drafted higher. In 1947, running back Bob Fenimore was the No. 1 pick overall, taken by the Chicago Bears. In 1989, running back Barry Sanders was taken by Detroit with the No. 3 pick. In 1978, running back Terry Miller was taken by Buffalo with the fifth pick overall.
In October 2010, Blackmon was arrested by Carrollton, Texas, police on a DUI complaint. Blackmon was driving a Chevy pickup north on I-35 after having attended, with three friends, a Dallas Cowboy game on a Monday night. Police radar registered Blackmon’s speed as having been 92 mph in a 60 mph zone.
As Oklahoma State was preparing for Big 12 road game at Kansas State, Blackmon attended the Dallas game without seeking permission from Cowboy coach Mike Gundy. Blackmon was arrested at 3:45 a.m., and Gundy responded with a one-game suspension of the prolific wide receiver.
Following the 2010 incident, Blackmon seemed contrite during a news conference in Stillwater: “I’m embarrassed to be in this position. ... I look forward to redeeming myself and proving to everybody that this isn’t who I am. I’m not this guy. I’m humbled by this experience and I will grow from it.”
A two-time unanimous All-American and two-time recipient of the Biletnikoff Award (given annually to the top wide receiver in college football), Blackmon is No. 2 in OSU’s career record book behind Rashaun Woods in receiving yards (3,564), receptions (252) and touchdown catches (40).
Before Oklahoma State defeated Stanford in the Jan. 2 Fiesta Bowl, Gundy described Blackmon as the best wide receiver ever to have played at OSU.
"He's going down, in my opinion, as the best player to play here since Barry Sanders (OSU's 1988 Heisman Trophy winner)," Gundy said.
Blackmon has not signed a contract with the Jaguars. Reportedly, negotiations began two weeks ago.
As the fifth pick in the draft, Blackmon is expected to get a deal of about $20 million overall. Taken by the Arizona Cardinals with the fifth pick in 2011, LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson got a four-year contract worth $19.5 million. His signing bonus amounted to $11.9 million. If or when Blackmon agrees to terms with Jacksonville, he is expected to get a comparable deal.
Blackmon was scheduled to sign autographs at an event in Houston at 2 p.m. Saturday but canceled because of illness, according to the promoter’s website.
Associated Images:
Justin Blackmon
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