Lewand apologizes after arrest

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

DETROIT -- Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand is apologizing after he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving while at a charity golf tournament in northern Michigan.

Lewand

Lewand said in a statement Saturday night that he is "deeply sorry" for his actions and takes full responsibility.

According to a police report, Lewand's breath test came back at 0.21 percent about an hour after he was stopped for erratic driving. In Michigan, a driver is considered drunk if his or her blood alcohol content is more than 0.08.

According to the police report, a Roscommon County Sheriff's deputy stated there was a strong odor of alcohol in the car and that Lewand's eyes were "glossy and bloodshot," according to the Detroit Free Press.

Authorities said he was pulled over after his sport utility vehicle was seen crossing from one lane to another after leaving a bar's parking lot.

The police report also said that Lewand told authorities he has "not drank in a year and a half" and was a designated driver who had stopped at the bar to pick up a friend.

Team spokesman Matt Barnhart confirmed Sunday that Lewand was arrested and released Friday night. Lewand was attending a charity golf event in Houghton Lake, about 150 miles northwest of Detroit.

Without providing details, Lewand said he's "a person in active recovery" and "committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure nothing like this ever happens again."

Lions owner William Clay Ford Sr. said that his team would stand behind Lewand.

"Tom made a very serious mistake and he appropriately owned up to that mistake," Ford Sr. said in a statement, according to the Detroit News. "As he continues to seek professional assistance for this problem, the Lions will support and help him in any way possible. I continue to have full confidence that Tom will positively lead our organization as he has since assuming his current role of team president. He has all my support."

According to the Detroit News, the NFL is aware of Lewand's arrest but team spokesman Bill Keenist wouldn't comment when asked about possible discipline that Lewand is facing.

In an e-mail, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed to the Detroit News that the league's personal conduct policy "applies to all NFL employees."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe