Taser used on former ballplayer after arrest
Josh Booty, the brother of USC quarterback John David Booty, was subdued with a Taser after being arrested early Wednesday in Santa Ana on suspicion of driving under the influence, authorities said Thursday.
Booty, a former professional baseball and football player, was shocked with the stun gun after being “uncooperative and belligerent” while being booked into Orange County Jail, said Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino.
During the struggle about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, Amormino said, Booty hit his eye on the ground or a table and suffered a black eye. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, Amormino said.
He was later cited and released from jail.
Amormino said “a clearly intoxicated” Booty was required to undress so he could be searched when he arrived at the jail. After the search, deputies told him to pick up his clothing, and he became uncooperative, Amormino said.
“We tried to restrain him, he pulled away, and he was throwing his arms out,” Amormino said. “Eventually we had to use the Taser to contain him. After the second Taser, he became cooperative and returned to his cell.”
The incident lasted less than two minutes.
Amormino said Booty, who is 6 feet 2 and weighs 215 pounds, later apologized to the deputies.
Booty was pulled over for speeding by the California Highway Patrol on the 55 Freeway near Baker Street.
Booty, 32, was a first-round draft pick of the Florida Marlins baseball team. According to Baseball Almanac, he had 26 at bats for the Marlins in three years and a .269 batting average.
He did not return phone calls seeking comment.
After quitting baseball, he enrolled at Louisiana State University in 1999 to play football and later became a quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. He has worked as a freelance contributor to FoxSports.com.
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Times staff writer H.G. Reza contributed to this report.
