Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Josh Portis was arrested on May 5 on the suspicion of driving under the influence and is scheduled on May 28 to be arraigned. In the latest twist, Portis's agent, JR Rickert, professed on Monday his client's innocence.
The police report, cited by CBS Sports, claims a Washington State trooper pulled over Portis for driving 80 mph in a 60-mph zone. Upon approaching the driver side window, the officer indicated in his report "a strong odor of intoxicants coming from the vehicle," and he noted Portis as having "watery bloodshot eyes."
Portis, 25, denied having drank alcohol. When the officer asked the quarterback to step out of the vehicle, a passenger interjected that
"Portis was a Seahawk player, and he did not have to get out of the car."
"Portis asked me if I knew who he was and I stated yes," the officer added in his report. "(The passenger) exited the vehicle and began to cry. (The passenger) stated I was arresting a Seahawk, and I was going to ruin him. ... (The passenger) shouted at me and stated she couldn't believe that I was from Seattle, and was arresting a Seahawk."
After his arrest, Portis allegedly admitted to drinking tequila at a Cinco de Mayo party. He said he lied about it earlier because he was nervous, according to a SeattlePi.com report. Another source claims Portis had a .092 blood alcohol level, which .012 over the legal limit.
The twist came on Monday. Rickert denied, in a series of tweets, that his client was ever arrested. He called the report a total fabrication.
"Want to clarify a story that is out there on our client #Seahawks QB Josh Portis: he was NOT arrested at all for anything," he wrote. "(He) was pulled over for speeding and passed every sobriety test....story of an arrest is completely false. I have reviewed the police report and spoken to Josh's attorney. The matter is still under investigation and no charges have been filed."
Portis, a 2011 undrafted free agent, is Seattle's backup quarterback. He sits behind Russell Wilson and Brady Quinn on the depth chart, and he's expected to compete with Jerrod Johnson for the third string position.
