NEWPORT, Ky. -- Reds player Ryan Freel pleaded not guilty to a drunken driving charge in Campbell County District Court Wednesday,
News 5 reported.
Freel's driving privileges in Kentucky were suspended for the time being. He's due back in court May 10.
Freel, arrested Monday night following the Reds' Opening Day victory, apologized in a statement released by the Reds public relations department.
Read the arrest report (PDF): Part 1 | Part 2
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"I apologize for the embarrassment I have caused my family, teammates, the Reds organization, Reds fans and the City of Cincinnati," the statement said.
"As Major League Baseball players, we are role models for young fans and should be aware of our behavior both on and off the field.
"I intend to handle this matter in an upright and honest fashion and will do everything in my power to assure that I never again find myself in this situation.”
The club released the following joint statement from general manager Dan O’Brien and manager Dave Miley:
"On behalf of the Cincinnati Reds organization, we are not able to publicly address this matter because of the pending legal proceedings. However, we do not condone behavior of the type charged, which is wholly inconsistent with the principles of this organization and our community and is detrimental to the positive direction we seek to follow."
The standard players contract does allow for the Reds to discipline Freel if he is convicted. But the players union can contest any penalty,
News 5's Ken Broo reported.
A player convicted of alcohol abuse is not subject to mandatory testing
Freel was arrested in Bellevue about six hours after the Reds' thrilling 7-6 win over the Mets,
News 5's Amy Wagner reported.
Freel failed six field sobriety tests and refused to take a breathalyzer test, Wagner reported.
Police also charged Freel with careless driving, having an open container in a motor vehicle and driving with expired license plates.
Police said they found an open flask of whiskey in Freel's vehicle after he crashed his Yukon SUV on Dave Cowens Drive in Bellevue. He was lost and trying to find the interstate when he was arrested about 11:15 p.m., Wagner reported.
Freel's father paid $500 to bail him out of the Campbell County Detention Center before dawn Tuesday morning, Wagner reported.
Accordiing to the police report, Freel told the arresting Bellevue officer he had not been drinking and asked the officer if he could call someone to pick him up.
The officer described Freel as glassy-eyed and unsteady.
The officer said he observed Freel stopped in the middle of the entrance ramp to Interstate 471 southbound.
According to the police report, the officer saw Freel turn around on the median and go the wrong way back down the ramp.
The officer said he noticed damage down the right side of Freel's vehicle and said Freel appeared to be swerving, so he pulled him over.
Bellevue police chief William Cole and his officers love baseball and Reds players,
News 5's John London reported. Cole wouldn't go on camera unless he could point out Freel was well-mannered during his arrest and booking.
"We just feel this is a very unfortunate incident," Cole told
News 5. "It's a shame that it had to take place, but I think it's important to point out that Mr. Freel was a complete gentleman the entire evening.
"You hear so many stories about Major League athletes who have altercations with the police. During this incident, he was a complete gentleman."
Workers at the police impound lot are also big baseball fans, London reported. Before
News 5 could get a picture of Freel's SUV, workers moved it inside. They said it was out of respect.
Some fans said they were fine with the incident, figuring the Opening Day revelry led to misjudgments and youthful excess.
"I'm a fan of Ryan Freel. (He) plays hard. He's a good ballplayer. Things happen to the best of us. We'll see what comes out of it and see if he learns from it," said Chris Neuhaus, a Reds fan.
Other fans were sharply critical, thinking of Freel as a role model and of his image.
"First game of the year and here's a rising star," said Jim Ellis, a Reds fan. "And for the kids of the city and the fans to see that sort of behavior, it's just not a great example."
Freel joined the Reds in 2003, and his hustle and versatility made him popular with fans.
He was one of the anchors of the team last season, playing five positions in 143 games after injuries sidelined several regular players.
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