Cardinals' Freese faces DWI charge

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese arrested over the weekend on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, the fourth time in less than three years that a member of the team has faced drunken-driving allegations.

Police in Maryland Heights, Mo., said Monday that Freese was stopped at 2:40 a.m. Saturday in suburban St. Louis for a traffic offense, then given a sobriety test.

Details of the test were not released, but Freese was arrested for driving while intoxicated and failure to drive within a single lane.

Freese was booked and then released, police said. He will appear in Maryland Heights municipal court, but no date has been set.

Freese’s agent, Philip Tannenbaum, said the player is remorseful.

“The entire matter is regrettable,” Tannenbaum said. “David looks forward to contributing to the success of the St. Louis Cardinals. We look forward to putting this behind us.”

There was no phone listing for Freese. Phone messages left with a Cardinals spokesman, general manager John Mozeliak and Freese’s attorney, Scott Rosenblum, were not returned.

Freese, 26, is a native of suburban St. Louis and played high school baseball at Lafayette High School in St. Louis County. He was drafted in the ninth round by San Diego in 2006. The Cardinals acquired Freese in a December 2007 trade that sent Jim Edmonds to San Diego.

Freese has been one of the team’s most productive minor leaguers and was a candidate to start at third base in 2009 after Troy Glaus had offseason shoulder surgery that would force him to sit out most of the season.

But in January, Freese’s car skidded on ice and wrecked. He injured both feet and eventually had surgery on his left foot, forcing him to miss most of the first half of the season.

He returned to hit .300 with 10 home runs and 37 runs batted in in 56 games at Triple-A Memphis. In 17 games with St. Louis, he hit .323 with one homer and seven RBIs.

Freese enters 2010 as perhaps the front-runner for the starting job at third base. Glaus was not re-signed, and Mark DeRosa, who played mostly third base after being acquired in a June trade with Cleveland, is a free agent.

Even if the Cardinals re-sign DeRosa, he could be moved to left field if Matt Holliday opts to sign elsewhere.

The arrest of Freese was the fourth alcohol-related incident involving a member of the Cardinals since early 2007, when manager Tony La Russa was arrested at an intersection in Jupiter, Fla., for driving under the influence.

Two months later, relief pitcher Josh Hancock died when the sport utility vehicle he was driving struck a tow truck that was parked on Interstate 64 in St. Louis. Police said Hancock was speeding, talking on a cell phone and had a blood-alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit.

The Cardinals banned alcohol from the clubhouse after Hancock’s death.

In February 2008, utility player Scott Spiezio was released after being charged in a six-count complaint involving drunken driving and assault related to a car crash in California.


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Crime Reports: Sierra Vista police Jan. 21; Bisbee police Jan. 20-22; Cochise County Sheriff Jan. 9-13

9:08 a.m. A two-vehicle non-injury wreck was reported at Highway 92 and Canyon de Flores. One driver was cited with failure to control speed to prevent a collision.

9:39 a.m. A report of sexual misconduct with a minor. The case remains under investigation at this time.

10:56 a.m. A resident in the 300 block of Steffens Street reported theft of a bicycle.

1:47 p.m. A KE&G employee reported theft of fuel. Approximately 300 gallons of diesel was taken from construction equipment.

2:35 p.m. A resident reported domestic violence in the 100 block of Coronado Drive. Due to conflicting stories from the parties involved, the case will be forwarded to the county attorney’s office.

3:34 p.m. A resident in the 300 block of Sycamore Drive reported theft of a tool box containing numerous tools from the rear of a pickup.

5:01 p.m. A resident in the 600 block of Charles Drive reported criminal damage. The vehicle was keyed down the length of the driver’s side.

9:29 p.m. A man, 57, was arrested on an allegation of domestic violence/criminal damage after police were called to the 1500 block of Via Caliente. He was booked into the county jail.

Bisbee Police

Wednesday, Jan. 20

11:51 a.m. A resident on the first block of Cochise Row reported receiving a phone call with a scam about her winning a large cash prize from a “clearing house attorney” out of Albany, N.Y., asking for her personal information claiming it was needed for an IRS form.

1:26 p.m. Sometime between Jan. 17 and Jan. 18, someone stole two rings valued at $2,000 from a jewelry box in a bedroom in the first block of Wolverine Street.

4:24 p.m. A resident in the 100 block of Coconino Drive reported someone had tried to break through his back door two weeks ago. He requested an extra patrol.

Thursday Jan. 21

4:13 p.m. Staff at Copper Queen Community Hospital reported a female juvenile, 15, was accidentally shot by a male friend, 19, while playing with a firearm on the first block of Mojave Drive. No criminal charges were filed. The investigation continues.

Friday Jan. 22

1:36 a.m. A call requesting assistance was received from a Spanish speaker from a pay phone near Burger King on Naco Highway. No medical assistance was required. Two illegal immigrants were turned over to the Border Patrol.

Cochise County
sheriff’s arrest reports

Saturday, Jan. 9

8:31 p.m. An Elfrida man, 18, was charged with threatening to cause physical injury or property damage, possess/use marijuana and harassing — written/electronic means.

8:40 p.m. A Willcox man, 28, was charged with judicial proceeding — disobey mandate.

Sunday, Jan. 10

2 a.m. A Willcox man, 19, was charged with possess/furnish liquor to a minor. He was released.

5:19 p.m. A Sierra Vista man, 51, was charged with cruelty to animals or poultry.

Monday, Jan. 11

10:30 a.m. A Benson man, 29, was charged with theft — control stolen property.

3:15 p.m. A Sierra Vista man, 40, was charged with probation violation, fighting/disruptive behavior and defacing/damaging property.

5:29 p.m. A Sierra Vista man, 40, was charged with violation of promise to appear.

6:05 p.m. A Sunizona man, 21, was charged with intentional injury to another, disorderly conduct, possess/use marijuana, deface/damage property and failure to pay fine.

Tuesday, Jan. 12

12:44 a.m. A Sierra Vista man, 27, was charged with defacing/damaging property.

7:30 a.m. A Willcox woman, 21, was charged with judicial proceeding — disobey mandate.

8:30 a.m. A Huachuca City man, 37, was charged with judicial proceeding — disobey mandate.

10:30 a.m. A Safford woman, 40, was charged with fighting/disruptive behavior, harassing or threatening conduct and use of telephone to harass/intimidate.

12:00 p.m. A Bowie woman, 20, was charged with fighting/disruptive behavior. She was released.

2:40 p.m. A Bowie man, 50, was charged with theft — control stolen property and expired/canceled/altered credit card.

4:17 p.m. A Willcox man, 40, was charged with burglary second degree, possess/use narcotic drug, two counts of possess/use drug paraphernalia, possess/use/produce/sale/transport of marijuana, two counts of possess/use dangerous drug, possess/use marijuana and deface/damage property.

5:30 p.m. An Elfrida man, 25, was charged with DUI — alcohol/drugs/toxic vapor andDUI — drugs or metabolite.

7:23 p.m. A Willcox man, 50, was charged with theft — deprive of property, touching with intent to injure/insult/provoke, fighting/disruptive behavior, defacing/damaging property and threatening to cause physical injury or property damage.

7:30 p.m. A Willcox man, 40, was charged with judicial proceeding — disobey mandate.

8:55 p.m. A Phoenix woman, 28, was charged with possess dangerous drug for sale and possess/use drug paraphernalia.

8:55 p.m. A Douglas woman, 23, was charged with possess dangerous drug for sale, possess/use marijuana and possess/use drug paraphernalia.

9:27 p.m. A Pirtleville woman, 31, was charged with possess/use drug paraphernalia and failure to pay fine.

10:21 p.m. Safford man, 55, charged with issuing bad check.

Wednesday, Jan. 13

2:25 a.m. A Sierra Vista man, 24, was charged with criminal damage.

2:51 a.m. A Bisbee man, 27, was charged with possess marijuana for sale and possess/use marijuana.

2:56 a.m. A McNeal man, 37, was charged with possess marijuana for sale, possess/use marijuana and transportation of marijuana for sale.

8:35 a.m. A Benson man, 50, was charged with possession of dangerous drug for sale, possession of marijuana within 300 ft. of a school, and possess/use drug paraphernalia.

11:13 a.m. A Willcox man, 50, was charged with altering/removing physical evidence and possess/use drug paraphernalia.

1:02 p.m. A Naco man, 21, was charged with possession of marijuana for sale and criminal trespass second degree.

4:07 p.m. A Sierra Vista woman, 24, was charged with a fugitive warrant.

4:37 p.m. A Pirtleville man, 33, was charged with interfering with a judicial proceeding and violation of promise to appear.

5:08 p.m. A Douglas man, 40, was charged with possess/use narcotic drug and failure to appear second degree.

7:51 p.m. A Douglas man, 19, was charged with burglary — nonresidential, trespassing — nonresidential structure/fenced yard and resisting arrest — use/threaten physical force.

7:53 p.m. Tombstone man, 19, charged with criminal damage and burglary — nonresidential.

9:26 p.m. A Sierra Vista man, 24, was charged with intentional injury to another.

11:36 p.m. A Willcox man, 25, was charged with possess/use marijuana, extremeDUI — .15 or more, DUI — alcohol/drugs/toxic vapor, DUI — drugs or metabolite andDUI — .10 or more concentrate.

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Anti-Thomas rally draws more than 250 people in Phoenix

Discontent with Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' and Sheriff Joe Arpaio's legal battles with county officials moved to a public forum Monday and received a boost from an unexpected source with inside knowledge of their cases.

Hundreds of attorneys gathered on the courthouse steps in downtown Phoenix to protest Thomas and Arpaio's public campaign against public corruption. And, in a scathing letter to The Arizona Republic, the Yavapai County attorney, who previously handled some of Thomas' cases against county officials, blasted the prosecutor and sheriff as "a threat to the entire criminal-justice system."

Sheila Polk, a Republican and career prosecutor, spent six months working on two of the cases sought by Thomas and Arpaio in their ongoing battle against county officials and the courts. Her office handled the first criminal case against Supervisor Don Stapley and the investigation into the disputed Superior Court tower project.

In her letter, Polk wrote that although Maricopa County isn't her jurisdiction, she can't sit by and watch the abuses from a distance anymore.

"I am conservative and passionately believe in limited government, not the totalitarianism that is spreading before my eyes," she wrote. "The actions of Arpaio and Thomas are a disservice to the hundreds of dedicated men and women who work in their offices and a threat to the entire criminal-justice system."

Polk had stayed out of the legal drama in Maricopa County, and her remarks offer the first insight from an outside law-enforcement official who has some knowledge of the cases Arpaio and Thomas have lodged against county officials.

Maricopa County Sheriff's Chief Deputy David Hendershott said that the Yavapai County Attorney's Office mishandled the allegations and that Polk wasn't as familiar with the cases as she implied.

But Polk's words appeared to shock Thomas, who learned about the letter the same day a rally was held near his office.

More than 250 people, mostly attorneys, gathered in front of the Superior Court complex in downtown Phoenix on Monday to protest criminal charges filed against a Superior Court judge who is accused of hindering prosecution, obstructing a criminal investigation and bribery.

Thomas laughed off the rally with a quip: "They predicted 1,000 people would turn out, and obviously that didn't materialize. So, I guess I'm not as big a draw as the sheriff."

He said he could not comment on Polk's letter.

Hendershott spoke on behalf of Arpaio. Hendershott said that Polk's office repeatedly failed to issue subpoenas the Sheriff's Office needed.

"It seemed clear to us that this case was being deliberately stalled," he said. "We basically let her know that her work product was ineffective."

Hendershott implied that Polk was interested in becoming a judge and was trying to curry favor with attorneys and politicians by stalling the investigation. Polk declined to comment, saying the letter speaks for itself.

Hendershott said that, after learning of Polk's letter, he also notified the FBI of his concerns about Polk's handling of the investigations.


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