Body camera footage released Thursday by the Associated Press shows Tiger Woods’ arrest on a DUI charge after a crash in Florida last week, including remarks made during a roadside sobriety test and Woods’ later statements while he was in custody, according to the footage and reporting.
The video shows Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy Tatiana Levenar conducting a roadside sobriety test and telling Woods, “I do believe your normal faculties are impaired, and you’re under an unknown substance, so at this time you’re under arrest for DUI.” Woods responded, “I’m being arrested?” and Levenar replied, “Yes, sir,” as Woods was evaluated.
The reporting accompanying the footage says the phone conversation was not captured on video, but Woods could be heard ending a call with “Thank you so much” as the deputy approached. In the same reporting, it was not clear whether Woods was referring to President Donald Trump, whose former daughter-in-law, Vanessa Trump, is dating Woods.
The footage also depicts how Woods appeared to react as he was handcuffed after failing a sobriety test, including showing him hiccupping, yawning, and repeatedly appearing to nod off during the ride. Authorities said Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but he refused a urine test.
Woods told authorities he was looking at his phone and changing the radio station when his speeding Land Rover clipped the back of a truck and rolled onto its side on a residential road on Jupiter Island. The reporting says no one was injured.
After handcuffing Woods, authorities searched his pockets and found two white pills. Woods identified them as “That’s a Norco,” referring to a painkiller that contains acetaminophen and the opioid hydrocodone, and authorities later confirmed Woods was in possession of hydrocodone.
According to the reporting, Woods told Levenar that he had not drunk any alcohol and that he had taken “a few” medications earlier in the day, though his words are muted in the released video as he describes some of the drugs. At the sheriff’s office complex, Woods was escorted into a “DUI room” where drivers are tested for being under the influence, and a supplemental sheriff’s office report released Thursday says Woods told staff, “I’m not drunk. I’m on a prescription medication.”
The reporting says Woods, 50, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to suspicion of driving under the influence and posted a statement saying he was stepping away indefinitely “to seek treatment and focus on my health.” Authorities said that under a change to Florida law last year, refusing an officer’s request to take a breath, blood or urine test became a misdemeanor, even for a first offense.
During the field sobriety test, deputies noticed Woods limping and that he had a compression sock over his right knee. The reporting says Woods explained he had undergone seven back surgeries and more than 20 surgeries on his right leg, and that his ankle seizes up while walking, while he repeatedly had to be told to keep his head straight during one of the exercises, according to an arrest report.
At the time of the crash reporting, Trump told reporters he felt “so badly” about Woods and said, “He’s got some difficulty,” adding he described Woods as “an amazing person” and “Amazing man,” according to the AP report. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Trump spoke to Woods after the crash.