Florida authorities have released body camera video of Tiger Woods’ arrest after the golfer’s latest rollover crash, shedding new light on the minutes after deputies responded to the scene. The footage shows Woods on one knee beside the road near his overturned SUV before officers walk him through sobriety checks and place him under arrest on DUI-related charges.
The newly public video adds detail to an incident that has drawn intense attention because Woods was trying to continue a comeback after years of injuries and vehicle crashes. According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office materials reviewed by CNN affiliate WPBF, Woods told an officer, “I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden – boom,” as deputies examined him at the roadside.
What the video shows at the crash scene
In the body camera footage, Woods appears calm as officers and medics speak with him after the rollover crash on Jupiter Island, a residential barrier island about two hours north of Miami. His SUV is shown on its side near the roadway, and an officer tells Woods that a medic will come and check him out.
The video later shows Woods taking field sobriety tests before a deputy handcuffs him. One deputy says, “At this time, I do believe your normal faculties are impaired, okay? And you’re under an unknown substance, okay, so at this time you are under arrest for DUI.”
Key points from the arrest affidavit
The arrest affidavit says the 50-year-old failed a field sobriety test after the Friday crash and showed bloodshot, glassy eyes with “extremely dilated pupils.” Deputies also said Woods crossed double solid lines, maneuvered around another vehicle with a trailer, and struck the trailer, which caused the SUV to flip onto its driver’s side.
The affidavit says Woods told deputies he was looking at his cell phone and changing the radio station when he did not notice the other vehicle slowing down. The other driver helped him out of the overturned vehicle from the passenger side because the driver’s side was pinned to the ground.
- DUI with property damage
- Refusal to submit to a lawful test
- Failure of field sobriety exercises
- Search that found two pills in Woods’ front left pocket
What deputies said they found
After his arrest, officers searched Woods’ pockets and found two pills in his front left pocket, which were placed into a plastic evidence bag. Woods told deputies he had not consumed alcohol, but he said he had taken “a few” prescription medications earlier that day.
The affidavit says two white pills identified as hydrocodone were later found in his pants pocket. Hydrocodone is a prescription opioid used for severe chronic pain, and it can slow breathing and impair alertness.
Breath test and medical history
At the Martin County Jail, a breath test reportedly registered 0.000 on both samples, meaning no alcohol was detected. Woods refused a urine test that could have checked for chemical or controlled substances, according to the affidavit.
Deputies also said Woods told them he has had seven back surgeries and more than 20 operations on his leg. The deputy concluded that Woods’ “normal faculties were impaired” and that he was unable to safely operate the vehicle, which led to his arrest shortly after 3 p.m.
Legal status and next steps
Court records show Woods has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 5 after he waived arraignment, and CNN said it reached out to Woods’ representative and attorney Douglas Duncan for comment.
Woods was not injured in the crash and was seen leaving the Martin County Jail late Friday, according to WPBF. The case has remained closely watched because it comes as Woods continues to manage serious physical setbacks while attempting to return to competition.
A pattern of past driving cases
The arrest has revived scrutiny of Woods’ earlier driving incidents. In May 2017, he was arrested after prescription drugs were found in his system, including hydrocodone, and he later pleaded guilty to reckless driving.
That case ended with 12 months of probation tied to treatment requirements, including DUI school, 50 hours of community service, and random drug and alcohol testing. Woods was also cited for careless driving in 2009, and in 2021 he was hospitalized after a serious rollover crash in Los Angeles County that investigators later ruled was an accident.
Woods has since played in 11 tournaments but finished only four, and he said this week that he is “stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment.” In a recent comment after a TGL indoor golf league match, he said he was still trying to return to competitive golf, but added that his “body doesn’t recover like when I was 24/25.”
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