Details emerge from Tanner McEvoy’s arrest in North Carolina
Today we followed up with the
McKlenburg County Sheriff’s Office and the
North Carolina State Highway Patrol to confirm the details of USC reserve quarterback Tanner McEvoy’s
arrest Sunday night. Here is what we what we learned:
According to Sgt. Dory with the North Carolina Highway Patrol, McEvoy was pulled over by a trooper on I-77 South for speeding. According to Dorty, McEvoy was stopped for driving 86 mph in a 65 mph zone. Dorty said the trooper detected the smell of alcohol when he was speaking with McEvoy and confirmed he had been drinking by administering a roadside breathalyzer with a Intoxilyzer. Dorty said he did not know what McEvoy’s blood alcohol level was, but said it didn’t matter because McEvoy was under 21 and any alcohol content was illegal.
“He didn’t get charged with DWI, but that doesn’t matter because he was under 21,” Dorty told us in a telephone interview Wednesday. “The officer tested him and confirmed he had consumed alcohol, but I don’t have the results of the test. But any amount is illegal for a person under 21.”
Dorty said McEvoy was also given a field sobriety test, which is standard when a trooper detects alcohol on a driver. Even though he didn’t have the results of the breathalyzer, Dorty said it is safe to assume McEvoy did not blow over the limit that would lead to a DWI charge. However, because of his age, McEvoy could deal with some of the same penalties in terms of his insurance and license revocation.
Dorty said it is up to the arresting officer to decide whether to issue a citation or detain a person charged with consuming alcohol under the age of 21. The results of the Intoxilyzer test may have been a factor in the trooper’s decision to book McEvoy.
“If [McEvoy] had registered only very small amount, [the trooper] might have only issued a citation,” Dorty said. They aren’t required to take them to jail but he decided to go ahead and make the arrest.”
Dorty said there is no dash cam video from the arrest.
“Not every cruiser has a dash cam. This cruiser didn’t have one so there is no dash cam evidence.”
McEvoy posted a 250 dollar bond for the speeding and underage consumption charges. Both are misdemeanors. Steve Spurrier
told SportsTalk last night that under USC athletic department policy McEvoy is suspended and will have to meet with athletic director Ray Tanner to determine how long he will be sidelined. Link:
http://sportstalkgolive.com/index.php/2012/08/01/details-emerge-from-tanner-mcevoys-arrest-in-north-carolina/