New Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, who has yet to even coach his first game, was arrested and charged for a DUI early Thursday morning, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constituion.
Budenholzer was stopped for having no tail lights. He was placed under arrest after a field sobriety test and also refusing a breathalyzer test.
Budenholzer was released on $1,524 bond at 3:45 a.m. on Thursday, according to the report.
“I take my role as a leader very seriously and hold myself to a high standard," Budenholzer said in a statement. "I apologize to the fans and to the Hawks organization for any negative attention this incident has brought upon my family and the organization while the legal process evolves and I contest these misdemeanor charges.”
Michael Hawkins, Budenholzer's attorney, added the following in a statement giving his client's side of the incident:
“Last night, Atlanta Hawks head basketball coach Michael Budenholzer was stopped by a Georgia State Patrol DUI Task Force officer for a broken taillight. He was stopped solely for an equipment violation and committed no traffic offenses. The trooper demanded that he submit to a breathalyzer, and when Coach Budenholzer asked to consult with an attorney first, he was immediately arrested and charged with DUI.
"While at the jail, after consulting with an attorney by telephone, he immediately volunteered to take both a breathalyzer and also requested that a blood alcohol test be performed. His request for testing was refused. Immediately upon his release on bond, Coach Budenholzer went directly to Piedmont Hospital where his blood was tested at the earliest opportunity, albeit several hours after his arrest. The official report from the hospital blood test revealed that his blood alcohol concentration was less than .01, well below the legal limit of .08.
"Coach Budenholzer has no prior criminal record and entered a plea of Not Guilty to all charges this morning in the Atlanta Municipal Court."
The Hawks issued the following statement from Danny Ferry: "Bud made us aware of the situation last night. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have further comment at the appropriate time."
A state trooper added these details in a story from MyFoxAtlanta.com: "As I spoke with him, I noticed that he had blood shot and watery eyes, and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath."