Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS Sports analyst Tony Romo was arrested on July 23 on suspicion of operating while intoxicated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, according to newly released police bodycam footage and official records (Yahoo Sports). A Milwaukee County Sheriff’s deputy, identified in video files as R. Kaur, pulled Romo over shortly after 6 p.m. during rush hour traffic (TMJ4 News, Yahoo Sports). The vehicle was stopped on an interstate highway bridge at the Marquette interchange.
Traffic Stop and Initial Contact
According to the deputy, the stop was initiated for unsafe passing on the right
and cutting across the gore, which is the marked area between highway lanes (TMJ4 News, Yahoo Sports). Audio from the body camera shows that both Romo and the deputy experienced difficulty hearing each other over highway noise, noting they had to basically yell. When questioned about his whereabouts, Romo stated he was coming from a golf course—having played in a USGA tournament at the Wisconsin Amateur Golf Championship—and was heading to visit his grandparents. Romo insisted he had consumed “zero” drinks.
During the initial encounter, Romo repeatedly asked if he could call his attorney. The deputy informed him that he could not make the call immediately because it was an active OWI investigation (Yahoo Sports). After Romo stepped out of his vehicle, he placed his cell phone on the back of his Jeep to record the interaction. The deputy handcuffed Romo to transport him off the elevated highway bridge to a level surface for standardized field sobriety tests (NBC Sports, Yahoo Sports).
Field Sobriety Testing and Observations
Romo was transported to the Milwaukee County Jail Sally Port to undergo standardized field sobriety tests. Before beginning, officers explained that the testing was prompted by Romo’s driving, red and glassy eyes, and the odor of an intoxicating alcoholic beverage on his breath (Page Six, Yahoo Sports). Additionally, deputies noted finding “a few shooters”—slang for small containers of alcohol—when searching Romo’s backpack, prompting Romo to ask if any of them had been consumed (Yahoo Sports).
Footage shows Romo removing his shoes, asking if he could stretch, and mentioning that he had undergone two previous back surgeries that affected his physical mobility (NBC Sports, TMJ4 News, Yahoo Sports). During the eye-tracking assessment, Romo had difficulty keeping his head still and repeatedly asked for clarification. During the walk-and-turn exercise, he told the deputy there were “too many” instructions to follow. A Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office report noted that Romo performed poorly
on the standardized field sobriety tests (Yahoo Sports).
Test Refusals and Legal Proceedings
Following the field assessments, deputies asked Romo to submit to a preliminary breath test (Yahoo Sports). Romo refused, stating, I’ve heard from all the lawyers don’t ever do that
. When read his rights under Wisconsin’s implied consent law regarding an evidentiary breath test, Romo refused again, asking for his attorney. Because of the refusals, deputies explained that a search warrant would be pursued to obtain a mandatory blood draw.
Romo was booked and subsequently released. He was cited for a first-offense operating while intoxicated and for refusing to take a test for intoxication after arrest (Foxnews, Yahoo Sports). According to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office and Wisconsin legal guidelines, a first-time OWI charge is considered a civil traffic violation rather than a criminal charge (Yahoo Sports). Romo is scheduled to appear in court for an intake on September 21 (Page Six, Yahoo Sports).
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