More details have emerged from Georgia running back Trevor Etienne's arrest early Sunday morning on four misdemeanor vehicular charges.
He posted bail totaling $1,883.00 after being arrested by Athens Clarke County police at 4:35 a.m. Etienne was released at 5:27 am. ET.
Along with charges of DUI and reckless driving, Etienne was charged with affixing material that reduces the visibility of windows/windshields and failure to maintain the proper lane.
Etienne’s DUI charge was denoted as “less safe.”
The DUI less safe statute also allows a driver to be convicted even if their blood alcohol content is less than .08 grams. Etienne declined to take a field sobriety test.
"I first want to reiterate what I said last week about the kid. I have really enjoyed getting to know him. I think he is a great kid and a great person. We have gotten to know his family. He enjoys being coached, and he is a bright kid. We push him hard out there, and he really loves the competition," head coach Kirby Smart said during Tuesday's press conference to talk about spring practice. "As we also know, sometimes kids don’t make the best decisions. The older you get sometimes the tougher the consequences are for your mistakes. He is not going to let this mistake define him. He is embarrassed, he is upset and he knows he has made a mistake. It is a teaching moment, and we think he gets better from it.
University Athletic Association rules state first-time DUI offenders are subject to a one-game suspension.
According to Smart, Etienne will be subject to any university rules, as well as any in-house punishment.
"In addition to our university discipline process, we have all the stuff we deal with in-house, and he will be under the same rules we have in-house as well as university discipline," Smart said. "I'm disappointed in his decision-making, but he is a good kid.'
According to a copy of the police report obtained by UGASports, Etienne, 19, was spotted driving southbound on South Milledge Avenue traveling between 80 and 90 mph in a 50 mph zone.
He later passed another vehicle on a blind curve near Will Hunter Road passing over a double yellow line "with almost zero lighting other than headlights" then passed another vehicle before the crest of a hill over a double line a second time.
After observing Etienne pass the vehicle, police attempted to stop Etienne to conduct a traffic stop. The vehicle continued to proceed southbound.
As police attempted to catch Etienne, the officer "reached 80 to 90 mph, and the vehicle was still gaining ground.
Etienne then reportedly accelerated his vehicle onto Golf Course Road over the yellow medan and passed several parked vehicles in front of the "Retreat apartment complex" until it came to the entrance gate, per police.
According to police, Etienne's eyes were glossed and his speech slurred. The report said the Bulldog running swayed back and forth while standing on flat ground.
He did not consent to a field sobriety test. Etienne told police that he "could push his car home" in response to whether he wanted to take the sobriety test.
"Based on his driving behavior, his physical demeanor, and statements in which he admitted drinking three beers downtown, I arrested him for DUI-Alcohol Less safe and three other charges," the report read.
When asked for his ID, the report read Etienne "showed police his car key."
"We are still gathering information in terms of the report and things, but some things we know already as usual," Smart said. "Like I said, the university discipline is going to take its course as well as he has to have consequences for his actions from the team. Both those things will play out as we gather more information.”
