Former UA QB Tuitama charged with extreme DUI
by Sheryl Kornman on Mar. 10, 2009, under Local, Special, Sports
Tuitama following December's game against ASU.
Tucson police arrested former University of Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama, 21, early Sunday morning on three DUI charges, said spokesman Officer Charles Rydzak.
According to a Tucson police report, Tuitama was behind the wheel of a Dodge Magnum in the drive-through at a McDonald’s at North Campbell Avenue and East Hedrick Drive when an employee of the restaurant approached a police car and told the officer the driver appeared “very intoxicated.”
The officer was parked in the parking lot of the McDonald’s “observing traffic,” according to the police report obtained Monday.
That officer followed the vehicle, which left the restaurant and moments later, after stopping at a red light, turned and drove southbound through a red light.
The officer stopped the vehicle and the driver identified himself as Tuitama.
Another officer called to the scene conducted a DUI test and found Tuitama’s blood alcohol level to be above 0.15.
A level above 0.08 is sufficient to arrest a suspect on a DUI charge. A level above 0.15 constitutes extreme DUI.
Rydzak said Tuitama was arrested on suspicion of three DUI charges: DUI, DUI with a BAC above .078 and Extreme DUI, with a BAC above 0.15.
He also was cited for the red light violation.
Police did not disclose Tuitama’s blood alcohol level.
The report provided by police blacked out details on the type of “beverages” an officer saw inside the vehicle.
Because of the extreme DUI charge, the vehicle was towed under a 30-day mandatory impound law.
Police said they noticed “signs and symptoms of intoxication” when they spoke to Tuitama, at about 3:15 a.m.
He was permitted to leave the scene in a friend’s vehicle.
The Stockton, Calif. native finished his senior season as Arizona’s starting quarterback.
He led the Wildcats to their first bowl game in a decade.
In February 2007, Tuitama was cited by law enforcement officers for being a minor in possession of alcohol. He agreed to take part in a diversion program and avoided fines and probation in that case.
According to NFL Draft Hub, a football Web site, Tuitama relocated to Atlanta Jan. 4 to spend five weeks training at Competitive Edge Sports.
He was preparing for the NFL draft April 25-26 in New York.
