The Macro Eagle News has reported that Timothy Wayne Roberson, 21, a baseman/catcher with Florida Gulf Coast University, has had a not guilty plea on drunk driving charges entered for him by the school’s attorney.
Roberson, of Lake Worth, was suspended for six games after campus police arrested him on February 11 for drunk driving.
Roberson did not attend the arraignment hearing on February 28 but, per the State’s Attorney’s Office spokeswoman, Samantha Syoen, he will have to be present to face the court on March 24.
The arresting officer’s report provided by the FGCU said that “at 1:30 a.m. an officer saw a car without a headlight on FGCU Parkway East and stopped it. The driver’s speech was slurred, he fumbled to find his vehicle registration. After searching through every paper in his center console, he found his registration and handed it to me.”
The officer stated that the driver then held onto his car door to support himself when the officer had requested that he step away from his vehicle.
Roberson failed all of the field sobriety tests: holding his arms up for balance, walking too many steps and hopping on one leg.
His breath smelled strongly of alcohol. Once in the Lee County Jail it was discovered from a breath test that it proved to be 0.20 and 0.193. In the state of Florida the legal driving limit is 0.08.
This is Roberson’s first DUI charge.
Ken Kavanagh, the athletic director for FGCU, in regards to Roberson’s suspension stated, “Let's say a fatality occurred or there had been a lot of other issues besides just getting a DUI, or let's say this was a situation where this is the last straw - this is a kid we've had other problems with - then the decision could be that we just need to part ways. With Tim's previous record as a student-athlete over his four-year tenure, I felt the way to go was the 10 percent.”
FGCU is also requiring that Roberson perform community service for the school and attend counseling.
Kavanagh added, “This is a serious offense. He's responsible, and he's taken a good attitude toward working with the folks in counseling at our university.”
Dave Tollet, the FGCU coach said, “I agree with Ken. The kid needs to learn a lesson. This is a serious incident, and I think kids need to be disciplined when something like this happen.”
Tollet wouldn’t remark as to whether Roberson will be playing in the next game as he must complete his suspension before he is allowed back on the field. Tollet also would not allow Roberson to speak to the press.
Roberson, at 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing in at 190 pounds, has led FGCU with 13 home runs, 63 RBIs and 142 total bases while batting .332 last season.
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