Dash Cam Video Released Showing Randy Travis’ Public Intoxication Arrest
- Posted on February 16, 2012 at 7:44am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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The Sanger, TX, police department has released the dash cam video of country music legend Randy Travis’s public intoxication arrest.
The singer was arrested on February 6 after officers found him sitting in a parked car in a church lot with a bottle of wine:
KXAS-TV recounts the exchange between Travis and the officers:
Officer Carl Parker knocked on the window and asked what was going on.
“Oh, I was asleep,” Travis told him.
“Asleep? Do you have any ID on you,” Parker said.
Travis couldn’t find his ID but told the officer his name. He said he was originally from North Carolina but was living in Tioga.
Travis’ words were slow and slurred, prompting Parker to ask Travis if he had had anything to drink.
“Yes, sir, I have. But I am not driving, as you can see,” Travis said.
At one point, Travis even asked Parker for a ride home.
“If you could give me a ride to the house I called in Tioga, I would be grateful,” Travis said.
The video shows a few more officers arriving on the scene. In the video, Parker went back to his car to talk to dispatch and calmly told the dispatcher what Travis just told him.
“Subject stating he is the Randy Travis and that he has a driver’s license out of New Mexico,” Parker, who is off camera, can be heard saying.
The dispatcher, seemingly stunned after recognizing the name, answered: “I don’t know what to say.”
“Do you want to send us a picture for verification?” the dispatcher said.
At that point, the officers asked Travis to get out of his car. Travis can be heard struggling to open the door before opening it.
“Here‘s what’s going to happen tonight,” Parker told Travis. “You’re going to go to jail for public intoxication.”
“Really? Are you kidding me?” Travis said.
Parker told Travis he needed more information about him.
“Maybe once we get to the jail, we can figure out who … get some more information on you, who you are,” he said.
“Are you kidding me?” Travis said.
One officer had earlier removed what looked like a wine bottle out of Travis’ car.
When officers tried to get Travis in position to handcuff him, he said: “You fixing to put handcuffs on me, are you? Is that what you’re fixing to do?”
“Yes, sir, I need your left hand, please,” an officer said.
For the most part, Travis was compliant. However, he did get perturbed once in the police car:
While waiting for the gate to the jail to open up, Travis can be heard complaining about being in handcuffs.
“Yeah, put these [expletive] handcuffs on somebody who — yeah, I’m about as threatening as a cat,” Travis can be heard saying in the back of the car.
Police say Travis, whose hits include “Forever and Ever, Amen,” was brought to the Denton County jail about 1:30 a.m. and released six hours later.
The singer, who lives in the small town of Tioga near Sanger, apologized in a statement to The Associated Press “for what resulted following an evening of celebrating the Super Bowl.”
Travis, who launches a concert tour Friday, says he’s “committed to being responsible and accountable.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments (62)
elkfeva
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 1:34pmi would have given him a ride, prob a rookie
Report Post »rangerp
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 2:18pmsounds like Randy was at the hard rock bottom of his heart. At least he did not say “i told you so”
I would have given him a break and called him a cab.
Report Post »Delta D-5-3
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 4:14pmWOW, Randy Travis drives an old pontiac Trans Am!!?? Now THAT’S funny! He must be hurting pretty bad to be driving a $2000 high school seniors dream car, LOL.
Report Post »AOL_REFUGEE
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 7:26pmThe ‘officers’ need to get a life.
Report Post »SpeckChaser
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 10:45pmI’d like some more info.
Was his car running?
Where the keys in the ignition?
Was he simply sitting or sleeping in his car?
Can you be publicly intoxicated inside your car or did he become “publicly” after he was told to step out, into public?
At least he had the decency to not drive.
Report Post »whitelephant
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 1:13pmThis is what ****** me off about some Cops…..man is in a church parking lot! Probably got a little wasted after his argument with his wife to be and decided it was not good to drive….park it man! I have done this before. Some nosy busy body see’s car parked in church parking lot and calls cop….cop mad because he cant finish his donut and coffee at 2:00 am. Go harrasess a man doing nothing!……..come on……use some D#@* common sense.
Report Post »Cascadian
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 4:31pmYeah, come on cops. Let Randy drive away and kill someone.
Report Post »colt1860
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 6:00pm@Cascadian Or they could have just given him a ride home and let it be. Parking lot, at night, in car, not driving, calm, exactly what public was he disturbing?
Report Post »getourcountryback
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 12:15pmCops can‘t or won’t arrest the Occuturds for pooping and peeing in public, on cop cars, raping, using illegal drus but someone in a parked car, who has had a legal subtance, minding their own business – that is a point of concern??? WTF over.
Report Post »getourcountryback
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 12:17pmsorry, fingers typing faster than computer could handle; I meant “drugs”
Report Post »sillyfreshness
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 12:06pmPublic intox? Did they give him a breathalyzer or were they just going off a hunch? If was a hunch, then Travis can pretty much figure the charges won’t stick.
Report Post »Dumpster Baby
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 11:51amCome on Blaze! There is no way I can tie this article to my blind and unwarranted hatred for the Obama administration. Stop it with this kind of garbage.
Report Post »followtheexample
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 12:55pmRon Paul would have let him go….easy huh?
Report Post »followtheexample
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 1:00pmRon Paul would have let him go….there easy..
Report Post »str8blues
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 11:43amSounds like what happened to me about 6 years ago. Went to a going away party for my best friend at the corner pub. I had too much to drink so I threw my keys on the floor and leaned my seat back and fell asleep, Only to be awakened by police who arrested me for DWI. $7000 later the judge threw out my case and apologized to me for an overly aggressive police officer. I thought I was doing the right thing by not driving……I would have gotten the same treatment if I had decided to drive drunk……doesn’t make any sense to me. That was in Albuquerque…..which has police nets every weekend trapping DWI offenders, traffic cameras on every intersection. I moved from NM after 50 years to get away from the Democratic Gestapo State under open borders Mayor Martin Chavez and Clinton Croney Bill Richardson.
Report Post »IanInCO
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 11:35amCome on Blaze! This is junk news. I avoid TMZ because of this crap. Don‘t tell me I’m going to have to start avoiding The Blaze! How is THIS news???????????????????
Report Post »hatchetjob
Posted on February 17, 2012 at 12:40pmDrinking 1, 2, 3… oops, I mean testing 1, 2, 3.
Report Post »TheCoffinMaker
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 11:33am…and when in hell do they plan on putting these damn handcuffs on all these illegal Mexican aliens??!!!!!
Report Post »B-Neil
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 10:53amIt’s sad. The Blaze is conforming to the regular media uselessness. BLAZE! tabloid does’nt become you. CARRY ON McDUFF p.s. Mr. Travis is human like the rest of us.
Report Post »KidCharlemagne
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 10:49amI‘m sure that Bill O’Reilly will have something to say about this later on…
Report Post »DSN397
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 2:48pmKIDCHARLEMAGNE I don‘t know about O’Reilly, but I sure as hell do. As a retired policeman of 30 years I’m ashamed of these clowns. They were looking to make name’s for themselves. First, Travis wasn’t staggering around town, he was in a parked car, which wasn‘t running and the public wouldn’t have even known he was even there. Second, when the cop, I won’t even call him a policeman, woke him, Travis identified himself, subquently produce a New Mexico drivers license, which was apparently his, and politely ask for a ride home.
Report Post »That is where this super cop story should have eneded. If it was too far out of his area to give the, although drunk but not out of line citizen a ride, he should have ask the dispatcher to send a cab, done it myself, several times.
The prosecutor should refuse to issue any criminal information, thus dropping the case, and all cops involved should be disciplined for intentionally acting to embarrass a well know citizen for their own pleasure or amusement.
I’ve seen cops like this my whole career. Real book ‘em DanO’s, they are crime fighters extrodinaire when it comes to minor’s in possession of liquor, curfew violations or some poor smuck sleeping it off in his car, but they wouldn’t know a real criminal if he came up and bit them in the A##, and if they did stumble onto one there would be enough assist cars for a policeman’s ball.
.
thegreatcarnac
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 10:17amLawyers are the cause of this arrest. Police departments have been sued by shyster lawyers for not arresting their clients and ‘protecting them’ from their own stupidity. The police find a drunk sleeping in his car. They take his keys so he cannot drive and they tell guy to come to the station when he sobers up and retrieve them. Meanwhile…he later gets out of his car and staggers into traffic and gets hit by a car. The family gets a lawyer and the lawyer argues the man should have been arrested for being drunk in public and he would not have been hit by the car; therefore…suddenly it is the fault of the police that this guy is a drunkard. Soooo…the police start arresting every drunk they see because they cannot afford to be lenient or understanding.
Report Post »gotoneon
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 9:52amDon’t we all have the right,to be wrong now and then?
Report Post »CARETAKER11
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 11:05pmWheres rhe ”like button at here…
Report Post »CARETAKER11
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 11:08pmthe,sorry…
Report Post »War_Eagle
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 9:52amI can see both sides. The police have a responsibility to see that he doesn’t pose a danger to himself or others. On the other hand, He clearly recognized that he was unable to drive and asked them for a ride home.
The best thing to do would have been to drive him home, take his keys and tell him to come to the station and pick them up when he sobers up.
I think more than likely, the police saw they had a celebrity and wanted to be the one who arrested him.
Randy‘s history of drug and alcohol abuse is well known and he’s done a great job overcoming those problems. As far as I’m concerned, this was just an isolated incident of stupidity and poor judgement. I think he handled it well, taking responsibility for his actions and apologizing.
What we need now is a good, old fashioned low, speed, George Jones on a John Deere, police chase through Hendersonville.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 11:03amIt’s not the polices job to protect you from yourself, that’s liberal thinking.
Report Post »Cascadian
Posted on February 20, 2012 at 5:51pmSo, they take Randy home and later he drives off in his Mercedes killing someone.
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 9:46amLet me get this straight WORLD wAR III IS ABOUT TO BREAK OUT IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Report Post »AND WERE TALKING ABOUT RANDT TRAVIS ! tHERE’S YOUR PROBLEN aMERICA !! !
SoupSandwich
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 9:54amBut we are still mourning Whitney – hold off on the reality for a few more days, pay your taxes, eat your chicken nuggets, and get back to work comrade.
Report Post »ivedonebeensassedbyawhore
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 10:43amI heard that the folks down in Texas were so upset about Whitney Houston’s death that they have named one of their biggest cities after her….
Report Post »proliance
Posted on February 17, 2012 at 7:21amGet a life Hawk. You’re free to panic and hide under your bed if you want, but I think your tin foil hat is on a little too tight.
Report Post »RecknHavic
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 9:26amFirst Travis excuses his behavior, “for what resulted following an evening of celebrating the Super Bowl.”
Report Post »Then he claims accountability, “committed to being responsible and accountable.”
2theADDLED
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 1:20pmThats more than Congress will give you accountability.
Report Post »Possible Presidential Candidate ?
FoxholeAtheist
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 9:15amGood ol‘ boy with good ol’ family values that you all hold dear. Smile and wave at your hero.
Report Post »Sapience
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 9:50amBecause Good ‘ol Boys with Family Values claim to be free from mistakes or sin, right?
Your comment makes as much sense as someone saying, ‘look at the Atheistic hero Stalin, what a guy’. If that were the case, I’d settle for a guy trying to sleep one off.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 8:57amWhat a drag… He’ll prevail. He’s one of the best entertainers out there and this kinda crap just comes with being one. March on Randy!
Report Post »jujubeebee
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 8:43amI don’t think this is fair to put this on the news. If any of us unfamous people got in this situation we would not have to be humiliated by the video on everywhere.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 9:24amIt comes with the fame. Nobody forced Mr. Travis to become a music star.
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 8:41amnow days your best bet is to stay home and get drunk. I am sure one day that will be know as private intoxication and you will go to jail for that too..
Report Post »CryptoCop
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 8:30amWhat some of you seem to not understand (obviously) is that once the police check him out and discover he is intoxicated in a public place (and it IS public, it is open and accessible to all members of the public), they can’t just leave him there because if something then happens to him they are liable. They probably thought he was just being a drunk wise guy “Randy Travis? Yeah right”. Hope he gets the help he needs.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 2:08pmDitto.
Report Post »jharper
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 8:10amAsleep in a private car in a private church parking lot equals public intoxication. hmmmm! I have heard that if you have a concealed weapons permit and an officers asked to see the gun, as soon as you produce it, it is no longer concealed and you go to jail. Be afraid, be very afraid!
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 8:17amYep…never show your gun….
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 10:08amDepends on jurisdiction and responding occifer. Wouldn’t push too many issues with alcohol involved.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 8:03amYou should have to sign a release for this stuff to be made public. What do the police do now, go straight to TMZ with all their footage? Print the man’s name in the paper like they do everyone else.
Report Post »Grasshopper42
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 8:01amPolicy Enforcers. Randy wasn’t driving. These codes (they’re not laws) are ridiculous.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 8:09amYea…that does not fly. If you are behind the wheel drunk you will be arrested. It does not even matter if there isnt a key either.A friend of mine went to sleep in his girlfriends car while she partied on. He did not have a key. he still got a DUI…
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 7:52amNo video. It’s a shame…He is a pretty good entertainer but like many hung up on the bottle. I have been clean and sober for 32 years now. I have not wanted a drink since I was 25 years old. I can be around drinking and it does not bother me or tempt me. I am so grateful to God that the demon that once had me was released. I am however still very aware that I could go right back to it at any time…You are never completely out of the realm of the temptation to fall again. I will pray for randy as mush as i pray for myself to not be tempted and fall…
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 7:47amWhy is this a story? Delight in other people’s misery? We should be better.
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