Former Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon is back in the news, and it’s for all the wrong reasons.
TMZ reports Damon was arrested for DUI Friday morning in Florida. According to the report, police say Damon’s blood alcohol level “was .30, nearly FOUR times the legal limit.”
And Damon wasn’t alone. According to TMZ, his wife, Michelle Mangan-Damon “was arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence.”
Cops also say Damon’s wife was in the car at the time of the arrest — and describe her as being completely out of control. Cops say Michelle Mangan-Damon was uncooperative, combative — and at one point, she actually pushed a police officer.
Per TMZ, the Damons were pulled over by the Windermere Police Department around 1:23 a.m. “after officers observed his SUV swerving all over the road.” Windermere is about 30 minutes outside of Orlando.
During the stop, cops say Damon was slurring his speech and unsteady on his feet — and ultimately admitted to drinking alcohol earlier in the evening. When asked if he had consumed alcohol, cops say Damon replied “just a little bit” while “motioning with his left hand and fingers in a small pinching motion. Before Johnny and Michelle were taken to the station, cops say Michelle told the arresting officer she had a nanny at home with their six children. So, the officer called the nanny and told her that Johnny and Michelle “were going to jail and would not be home for some time.” While at the station, cops say Johnny agreed to take a breathalyzer test, but noted his wife was advising him against it. Ultimately, cops say Johnny gave two valid breath samples, .30 and .294.
TMZ reports the legal limit to drive in Florida is .08, so police arrested and booked Damon for driving under the influence.
Damon played for the Yankees from 2006 to 2009, helping the club win its most recent World Series title. Damon picked up his first ring with the Red Sox in 2004, when Boston completed its historic comeback from an 0-3 deficit to the Yankees in the American League Championship Series.
Damon last played in 2012 with the Cleveland Indians. He retired after 18 MLB seasons with 2,769 hits and two All-Star selections.
In the years following his baseball career, Damon appeared on the athlete’s edition of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2018 and as a charter guest on “Below Deck: Mediterranean.”