VIRGINIA BEACH
After former NFL star Bruce Smith's conviction Thursday of drunken driving, city leaders quickly backed away from plans to honor him.
General District Judge Teresa N. McCrimmon found Smith, 46, guilty of driving under the influence, speeding and refusing to take a breath test. Smith and his attorney, Larry Cardon, immediately appealed the conviction and scheduled a new trial for Aug. 27 in Circuit Court.
Smith's sentence, which included a 90-day suspended jail term, $440 in fines and a one-year suspension of his driver's license, was not imposed because of the appeal.
City leaders had planned to celebrate Smith, a Beach resident and graduate of Norfolk's Booker T. Washington High School, after his election in January to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His arrest just after midnight May 15 led Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms and others to postpone those plans.
The arrest was Smith's third DUI charge. His first, in 1997, was dismissed; his second, in 2003, resulted in acquittal.
City officials scrapped the plans within hours of Thursday's verdict.
"It puts the city in a bad position to be honoring someone who the city has just convicted of a crime," said Beach Councilman Jim Wood.
Councilman Ron Villanueva, who was co-planning the event, agreed.
"He's a tremendous football hero, but like all public figures, we're in the public eye, and we have to demonstrate sound judgment and serve as proper role models."
Meanwhile, Operation Smile, the Norfolk-based children's medical charity, said it would move forward with plans to honor Smith on Sept. 25. Smith was on the group's board of directors from 1995 to 2001 and went on a medical mission to Kenya, said Lisa Jardanhazy, Operation Smile's vice president.
"He's really served Operation Smile for 15 years," she said. "We're pleased to go forward with the event."
During Thursday's trial, Master Police Officer Bryan K. Womble testified that Smith smelled of alcohol after being pulled over for speeding on Interstate 264. His eyes were bloodshot and watery, and he admitted splitting a bottle and a half of wine with three friends earlier in Norfolk, Womble said.
Prosecutor Kristin Paulding showed the judge a police recording of Smith performing three field sobriety tests.
In the video, Smith appeared cooperative but frequently mentioned his knee problems. He also repeated Womble's instructions for each test, including one that required him to take nine steps heel to toe, turn and walk nine steps back heel to toe.
Despite repeating the instructions several times, Smith took 14 steps before finally turning.
Cardon did not dispute that Smith had been speeding on Interstate 264 or that he had refused a breath test after being pulled over. But he blamed Smith's poor field-test results on the former defensive end's concussions, major knee problems and other football injuries rather than alcohol. He handed the judge a stack of medical records detailing the ailments.
The judge dismissed the argument and said Smith couldn't follow the instructions because he was impaired.
During Smith's trial, no one mentioned that the officer who arrested him also faces a drunken-driving charge. Womble was charged June 20, after posting a 0.15 blood-alcohol concentration following a car crash near the Oceanfront. He is on administrative duty pending a July 27 trial, and officials have said the charge would not affect his cases.
Smith played 15 seasons for the Buffalo Bills and four seasons for the Washington Redskins. He retired in 2003 as the NFL's career sacks leader and is to be enshrined Aug. 8 in the Hall of Fame.
Shawn Day, (757) 222-5131, shawn.day@pilotonline.com
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habitual offender
He has been arrested 3 times for a DUI! Because he has money he gets off? He shouldn't be honored, and he should suck it up and take the sentence that he was given and save us the tax money of another trial. Are we going to wait until he hits and kills someone to actually punish him?
There is a seat waiting for you Bruce!
All I have to say is this......
HA!
Chesapeake prosecutor delays cop's hit and run charge
The cop hit a Neon. If you sneer at a Neon, there is over $1,000 in damage. The system seems to be protecting the cop in order to convict Bruce Smith.
The cop involved...
hasn't had his day in court yet. He hasn't been convicted of anything. He certainly has not had any charges (that I've heard about) leveled against him that he was ever impaired while on the job. That said, my guess is that, besides whatever legal penalties he may pay if found guilty, the city will face a plethora of legal challenges and appeals based on him being convicted, from the lawyers of many of those who were convicted of DUI when he was the arresting oficer.
Role Model???
I think that Bruce and the other officer that were charged with DUI should face the same penalty as any other offender. I don't think anyone should lose their job over a DUI on personal time, which is what the news is questioning about the officer. As far as Bruce, yeah he's an over-paid football player and like everyone..made a bad decision. As far as being a role model...parents need to step up to the plate and be their own child's role model. Quit making athletes, teachers, officers,..etc your child's role model. There are many people that get DUI's on a regular basis, but if that person is an athlete, teacher or officer...their picture is plastered all over the paper. Parents then speak out about how "it's a bad example" for kids. If parents are doing their job, then kids already know it's wrong to drink and drive. I'm just so sick of parents relying on other people to be their child's role model.
The city did as I suggested on these threads..
a few weeks back, and wait until the court proceedings were complete before deciding on having the bash. The court has spoken, and the city has too. Common sense is a wonderful thing if applied properly! I know there's an appeal pending, but there usually are. It looks like justice has been served.
3rd DUI
I have a relative that received a DUI 6 years ago. The individual had turn in his license and get a special one to drive to ASAP, AA OR other meetings of the like, or to work or doc. This was for ONE YEAR. Had to go to court, pay lawyer, fines to DMV, insurance. Thank God and we did he didn't hurt himself or anyone else. I made a believer out of him and I don't expect it to happen again. You go to jail, yes, jail, the next time. This stays on your record (or his for 11) years.
The guy in this article should be made to go to MADD and work with the on speaking to kids to "don't do what I did". Speak to families that have lost loved ones due to being stupid and irresponsible and killed them due to driving under the influence.
No exceptions or special treatment ever for this guy. For God's sake - his 3rd DUI. He has not learned one thing from the others, so he did it again.
AB
Chesapeake, VA
JUST BAD
3 DUI is not good even if he beat the others.On TV news the other night the Va. Beach mayor said Bruce asked not to be honered if I heard it correctly and if so Bruce is a stand up guy. Hope he gets help!!!!
Gut Check Time
He who is without any sin cast the first stone.
I've been in Mr. Smith's current place before in my life. And yes, I suffered. In part the negative experience made me a better person.
Jail, AA, public scorn,community service and parole are all good for individuals so charged. All of these elements should be mandatory for Bruce going forward. The slap on the wrist sends the wrong message to society. Redemption is only a small part of what is actually happening to Bruce right now.
Big picture, if you believe, pray for this mans "soul". He is going to need it to survive his demons. One day at a time Bruce.
What???
Why were our tax dollars planned to be spent on an overpaid athlete anyway??? I am completely against anything of the sort, with or without DUIs. On another note, I think most of the people supporting this man in spite of his crimes are just racist. If he was white, you would be as outraged over his behavior as everyone else.
In my humble opinion ----
The City could well have come out smelling like a rose with a little clear-headed thinking here. The "bash" as it's sometimes called could have been a fantastic public relations opportunity for Bruce to stand up, admit his mistake and take a real stance against drunk driving. The City, the general public and Bruce himself would have come out winners. This really would have been the venue to do some real good and send a real message. It's a shame no one on City Council used their heads here.
Let's see the proof
“I regret the events that took place on May 14. I apologize to my family, friends and fans. I acknowledge my responsibility as a role model, and drinking and driving under any circumstances is wrong. I plan on taking steps to ensure that this never happens again.”
Let's hope he does get help for his alcoholism, then, we can honor him. Getting caught driving drunk the first time is "bad judgement." Getting caught driving drunk again and you must have a problem because you didn't learn from the first "mistake".
THERE NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EVENT IN THE FIRST PLACE!
City tax dollars (MY MONEY!) have no business being spent on some sports figure. His Hall of Fame status has nothing to do with City business, and I'm tired of the city "leaders" treating my money (and yours) like some overflowing candy dish that they can just stick their hand in and pull out a wad of cash to blow on some "bash". I have no respect for our city leaders as a result of this kind of pervasive attitude toward our hard-earned money. If they like this guy so much, take him out to dinner on their own dime. Fawning over him does nothing for me or my city. I do everything in my power to minimize or avoid city taxes, because it gets spent on garbage like this.
All the people asking about MPO Womble's DUI charge
You should be noticing two things: 1) Smith appealed his conviction to circuit court. What this really means is he gets a brand new trial (unless he withdraws the appeal). I.e., Womble will have to come testify again. 2) Womble's own DUI trial is set for July 27.
If anyone still has doubt
If anyone still has doubt that kids, I say are in awe of guys like Bruce when they are in their sports heydey, not that they are necessarily role models or heroes, I'll share this. My 10 year old niece and her 6 year old cousin are currently on a Hawaiian cruise and met a Jacksonville Jaguar in a ship elevator yesterday. He has been in the NFL for only a few years and still appears to be gracious and humble. As he is very tall, he was initially asked if he was a basketball player. He demurred and softly replied that he is a football player. When pressed, he responded that he plays in the NFL. As the kids are both Cowboy fans, they told him, after he posed for a picture with them, that they'd root for the Jaguars this season. He thanked them, and with a chuckle, told them it's okay to be Cowboy fans. What a sweet moment. I, too, will be anxious to watch this guy and hope, for the sake of these two children and others, that I hear nothing untoward about him. GO JAGUARS ! ! !
Time Heals
If Bruce Smith had not been arrested and convicted of DUI at this time, the city would have rightfully gone ahead with the ceremony honoring him. As a Hall of Fame inductee he deserves the honor - but not at this time.
Perhaps Bruce Smith can learn from this and use his celebrity to educate others on the dangers of drunk driving. With his NFL accomplishments he would certainly have the attention of young hopefuls. Sharing his story as a warning to others could elevate him into truly being a role model.
Give it a few years. Let the justified furor over his DUI fade away, let him redeem himself through community service, and then have a ceremony to give him the props he deserves as an exceptional athlete from our area.
SO WHAT?
Being an athlete from our area is meaningless. So what? There are hundreds of other people here who do more for society than play a game and get overpaid for it. I don't owe him a thing. He owes the city, actually. Let him take some of his money and put it into local charities to help people who can't afford a bash of their own.
Bruce Smith
Why can't mega-wealthy Bruce Smith have a limo driver take him home?? Why not tip the cab driver a hundred bucks to take him home, which will stimulate the economy??? I have no pity on him for driving while drunk. He had options due to him being rich that us poor drunk drivers do not.
Why Not Throw Him A Party?
Invite Burris and the Vick Brothers!
Re: Capt Bryan
During a command directed alcohol education class for all CPO's a few years ago I was surprised to learn that the avergage number of times a person will drive under the infleuence before getting caught is over 200. If he had in this case crashed into and killed someone would all these people still say it wasn't so bad. I thought we learned these lessons years ago. By the way, this would never happen to the Dalai Lama. What a ridiculous analogy.