Austin Kearns Arrested Last Month: Indians Outfielder Faces DUI Charge

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cleveland Indians outfielder Austin Kearns was arrested in Kentucky last month on suspicion of drunk driving just days before he reported to training camp.

The Indians were not aware of Kearns' arrest until it was reported Monday by the Jessamine (Ky.) Journal. Kearns said he met with manager Manny Acta and general manager Chris Antonetti.

"We talked," Kearns said, "and we're all on the same page."

Antonetti said the club found out late Monday night about the incident. Antonetti would not comment further when asked if he was disappointed that Kearns did not inform them of the arrest.

Speaking with reporters outside the clubhouse on Tuesday, Kearns said he did not tell the team about his arrest on "advice that I was given. They know what's going on and we'll go from there."

According to the paper, Kearns was arrested after being stopped by an off-duty Lexington police officer, who said Kearns was "flashing his headlights and weaving" in a 2007 Cadillac Escalade. Kearns posted bond and has a court appearance scheduled for March 10.

Kearns said his attorney will represent him in court. He would not say if he is contesting the DUI charge.

Citing the police report, the paper said the 30-year-old Kearns told a sheriff's deputy that he'd had a "a couple bourbon and cokes" in Lexington, his hometown. According to the report, Kearns refused a field sobriety test and was "very unsteady on his feet." Kearns reportedly told the officer he was a professional baseball player "and asked if I could cut him a break."

Kearns had no comment about whether he asked for special treatment.

The Indians re-signed Kearns to a one-year, $1.3 million contract as a free agent in December. He was with the club last season until July 30, when he was traded to the New York Yankees.

Comments

[chucknchar]

09:55 AM on 03/03/2011

"Don't drink and drive", "don't drink and drive", how are you suppose to get anywhere?

[cameron d]

10:06 AM on 03/02/2011

He was probably drowning his sorrows due to the fact that he plays for the Cleveland Indians. That being said there's no excuse for anyone, especially a Major League Baseball player, to be drinking and driving.

[cookerman45]

09:42 PM on 03/01/2011

we only hear of it a MONTH later cause he is a white guy.

[LebronJeremy]

06:07 PM on 03/02/2011

Or we only hear about it a month later because no one cares about baseball, and especially no one cares about the Indians, and especially especially no one cares about a no namer on their team.

[Alessandro Machi]

08:24 PM on 03/02/2011

now now, Lebronflunkie, take your talents to Miami and make an angel out of the cleaned up sand.

[StAlphonso]

11:07 PM on 03/02/2011

And a MONTH is the same amount of time a black guy spent in jail for killing a pedestrian while drunk.

[cookerman45]

11:21 PM on 03/02/2011

a month of sundays?

[dlkillinois]

09:02 PM on 03/01/2011

When professional athletes can't balance themselves, they are WASTED.

[EqualMeansEqual]

08:44 PM on 03/01/2011

Stupid athlete.

You have the money for a cap. Or even a driver.

[Alessandro Machi]

08:26 PM on 03/02/2011

actually, 1.3 million is not that much for a veteran. deduct the agents cut, uncle sam's cut, state taxes, pension fund, social security, he probably see half of that. That's not that much for a veteran ballplayer who only has a couple seasons left to his career.

[mikeg0477]

08:50 PM on 03/02/2011

Ok, so even if he only makes half, 650K should be enough for a cab.

[havbrush]

05:59 PM on 03/01/2011

What a difference in how this arrest and that of Miguel Cabrera, a latin player, was handled. Cabrerra's was all over the media immediately -- web, print, radio, TV -- and this comes out a month later as almost a footnote, and apparently someone, either with the police or local media, was complicit in helping to keep it quiet.

[JimR]

06:23 PM on 03/01/2011

Well, Miguel Cabrera is a big star. Who the heck is Austin Kearns?

[cookerman45]

09:43 PM on 03/01/2011

a white guy.

[Peppers Dad]

10:02 AM on 03/02/2011

Cabrera has a history of alcohol-related issues but remains - pardon the expression - "the straw that stirs the drink" for the Tigers. They've given him huge money, perks, and length of contract. Kearns is nothing more than a fairly durable utility guy...the league has a ton of guys just like him. Serviceable, if they still use that word.

It saddens people like me that this angle of white vs Latino is debated to this day.

[dlkillinois]

09:01 PM on 03/01/2011

Yeah, I'd say it's more about star power than a racial thing...

[BMVB]

05:05 PM on 03/01/2011

Why is a Austin Kearns story on huff post for real baseball headliners, fantasy advice & polls check out www.sportbloggers.com

[Jacob007]

04:20 PM on 03/01/2011

WHO