New details have emerged in the DUI arrest of former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo, with authorities saying an open bottle of alcohol was discovered inside his vehicle after he was stopped on a Wisconsin interstate last week.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office disclosed the finding in one of three citations issued following the July 23 traffic stop. According to authorities, the open alcoholic beverage was found on the passenger side of Romo’s black Jeep while officers were conducting an inventory of the vehicle before it was towed.
Romo, 46, was subsequently taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence after authorities said he performed poorly during field sobriety tests.
He was booked and later released.
Court records also show that the longtime CBS football commentator was cited for refusing to take an intoxication test following his arrest.
Romo is scheduled to appear in court on September 21.
Why police stopped Tony Romo
The encounter began on Interstate 43 on July 23 after authorities said they observed Romo passing other vehicles through a gore area.
A gore is the section of roadway separating the main lanes of a highway from traffic entering or exiting via a ramp. Driving through the marked area can be prohibited.
According to the citation, Romo questioned officers about what constituted a gore area during the traffic stop.
What began as a traffic violation investigation subsequently turned into a suspected DUI case as deputies interacted with the former NFL quarterback.
Body-camera footage released this week provided additional details about what officers said they observed.
One deputy told Romo that his eyes appeared “red” and “glassy” and said he could detect the smell of an alcoholic beverage.
The deputy told Romo those observations had led him to suspect impairment.
Romo said he was coming from a golf course
The bodycam footage also captured Romo explaining where he had been before the traffic stop.
He told deputies that he was coming from a golf course and was travelling to “visit grandma and grandpa”.
Romo has longstanding ties to the area.
Although best known for his years playing in Texas with the Dallas Cowboys, he attended high school in Burlington, Wisconsin, roughly 35 miles from Milwaukee.
Deputies proceeded with field sobriety tests during the roadside encounter.
Authorities said Romo performed poorly on those tests, after which he was taken into custody.
The additional citation concerning the intoxication test indicates that Romo subsequently refused testing after his arrest.
Open bottle found before Jeep was towed
The latest disclosure adds another element to the investigation.
Before Romo’s Jeep was towed, authorities conducted an inventory of the vehicle.
During that process, an “open bottle of an alcoholic beverage” was found on the passenger side, according to a citation released by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities have not said in the information released whether the bottle belonged to Romo or provided details about the type or amount of alcohol it contained.
The discovery nevertheless resulted in one of the three citations connected to the incident.
The case will now proceed towards Romo’s scheduled September court appearance.
From Cowboys quarterback to CBS NFL analyst
The arrest has attracted national attention because of Romo’s prominent role in American football, both during and after his playing career.
Romo spent his entire NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys from 2004 to 2016, emerging as one of the franchise’s most prolific quarterbacks.
He earned four Pro Bowl selections and finished his Cowboys career with 34,183 passing yards.
For years, that stood as the franchise record until current Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott surpassed Romo last season.
Romo remains the Cowboys’ all-time leader in touchdown passes, with 248.
After retiring from the NFL, he moved almost immediately into broadcasting and joined CBS Sports in 2017.
He quickly became one of the network’s most recognisable NFL voices and has served as the lead game analyst for CBS’ football coverage.
His ability to anticipate plays before they unfolded helped make him a high-profile figure in sports broadcasting following his retirement from the Cowboys.
The July 23 traffic stop now puts Romo in the spotlight for a very different reason.
With police citations, body-camera footage and the newly disclosed discovery of an open alcohol container now part of the public record, the next major development in the case is expected when the former Cowboys quarterback appears in court on September 21.
(With AP inputs)
