So here is another guy who just got suspended, in trouble in the same week the OTHER idiot Pacman gets in deeper trouble.
How stupid are these guys? What don't they get?
Tank Johnson stopped by police in Arizona
Bears investigating Friday morning incident
By David Haugh
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 22, 2007, 4:30 PM CDT
In what is becoming a ritual at Halas Hall, the Bears are gathering information about a police incident involving Tank Johnson that could affect the length of Johnson's eight-game NFL suspension — if not affect his standing with the team.
Gilbert, Ariz., police pulled Johnson over at 3:30 a.m. Friday and cited him for "being impaired to the slightest degree," according to Sgt. Andrew Duncan, a police spokesman. Police initially stopped Johnson for going 40 m.p.h. in a 25 m.p.h. zone when the officer on the scene "made observations that led him to believe Johnson was impaired," according to Duncan.
Johnson was taken to the Gilbert Police station where blood was drawn to determine his blood-alcohol content. Results of those tests aren't expected for up to two weeks, Duncan said. In Arizona, the legal limit for being under the influence is having a blood-alcohol content of .08.
Johnson has not been charged with DUI. If Johnson exceeded .08, he could be charged with driving under the influence. If he wasn't past the legal limit, Johnson still faces the citation of "being impaired to the slightest degree," according to Duncan. Gilbert prosecutors might also decide not to file any charges.
Duncan declined to address potential punishment or fines.
The officer at the scene reported Johnson "was very cooperative," and was released under his own recognizance after the blood tests, police said.
The Bears confirmed Friday they were gathering information about an incident involving Johnson being pulled over in Arizona, but had no comment pending their investigation. Johnson's lawyer, Lorna Propes, had no comment Friday afternoon and said she was gathering information.
Minimally, the incident likely will cost Johnson two games. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said earlier this month that Johnson's eight-game suspension could be reduced to six if he had "no further adverse involvement with law enforcement."
Getting arrested at 3:30 in the morning for speeding and being under the suspicion of DUI would seem to qualify as adverse involvement.
Prosecutors in Lake and Cook Counties, where Johnson faced legal trouble following a raid on his Gurnee home earlier this year, said Friday's incident in Arizona would not affect him in Illinois.
"The case is over and he served his time," said Cook County Assistant State's Atty. Rick Cenar.
In May, Johnson completed 60 days of a 120-day sentence in Cook County Jail after pleading guilty to violating his probation on a 2005 weapons conviction.
Johnson also pleaded guilty in May in Lake County to possession of a firearm without a valid Illinois Firearm Owner's Identification Card, a misdemeanor charge that could have carried a sentence of up to a year in jail.
In exchange for his plea, Johnson was sentenced to 45 days in jail with credit for time served in Cook County. He was also ordered to donate $2,500 to the Gurnee Exchange Club and another $2,500 to the Gurnee Police Department's D.A.R.E. program.
"Our case is closed," said Lake County Assistant State's Atty. Mary Stanton. "He's not on probation or conditional discharge."
If the Bears are fed up with dealing with Johnson after giving him multiple chances to return in good standing, they might consider how to address his future with the team. Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo have been Johnson's biggest supporters but must be disappointed with Johnson putting himself in such a position.
Johnson had just returned to his home state of Arizona after the Bears wrapped up organized team activities Wednesday.
Tribune staff reporter Courtney Flynn contributed to this report.