Jerry Buss arrested in Carlsbad
Lakers owner Jerry Buss was arrested early Tuesday morning in Carlsbad on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and faces two misdemeanor charges, according to a police report.
Buss, 74, failed a sobriety test after being pulled over at 12:50 a.m. near downtown Carlsbad. Police said his blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit of 0.08%, although the final results were not released.
Officers followed Buss after he failed to depress the high beams of his gold Mercedes-Benz E320 while driving southbound on Carlsbad Blvd. Officers were traveling northbound. Officers then observed Buss taking a wide turn and crossing over a double yellow line.
Buss didn’t initially pull over -- “He didn’t react right away,” according to the police report -- but then moved to the curb. “Mr. Buss was cooperative,” said CHP officer Tom Kerns. “It was an uneventful DUI arrest.”
A 23-year-old woman, Jeannana M. Flores of New York City, was also in the car with Buss and was not arrested.
“Although I was driving only a short distance, it was a bad decision and I was wrong to do it,” Buss said in a statement.
“It was a mistake I will not make again.”
Buss was taken to the Vista Detention Facility near Oceanside and was released on bail.
Buss has a home in the Carlsbad area.
*
mike.bresnahan@latimes.com
More to Read
All things Lakers, all the time.
Get all the Lakers news you need in Dan Woike's weekly newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.