Florida Marlins Pitcher Dontrelle Willis arrested on DUI charge
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MIAMI -- Marlins two-time All-Star pitcher Dontrelle Willis was arrested and charged with DUI in South Beach early Friday morning, according to police reports.
The 24-year-old, who was married earlier this month, failed a field sobriety test and he refused a Breathalyzer test. The arrest occurred about 4 a.m. ET.
According to police reports, Willis drove up to a South Beach night club, got out of his black Bentley and urinated on the street. He got back into his car and was arrested on Washington Avenue close to the Mansion nightclub.
Willis spent the rest of the night in jail, and bond was set at $1,000.
As of early Friday morning, the Marlins organization had not been notified of the incident by authorities.
Marlins senior vice president of communications and broadcasting, P.J. Loyello, said the organization had no comment Friday morning.
A call to Willis' agent, California-based Matt Sosnick, was not immediately returned.
Raised in Alameda, Calif., Willis makes South Florida his home year-round.
"He couldn't keep his balance, he had a strong smell of alcohol," Miami Beach police spokesman Bobby Hernandez told the Associated Press.
The high-profile Willis is one of the rising stars in the league, and the left-hander is immensely popular.
The National League Rookie of the Year in 2003, Willis has been to two All-Star games, he's been a 20-game winner, and he represented the United States in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He was the organization's Roberto Clemente nominee, an honor that recognizes his achievements on and off the field.
With a 58-39 career record, Willis is the Marlins' all-time leader in victories. In 2005, the lefty went 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA, pacing the Major Leagues in victories. He was 12-12 with a 3.87 ERA in 2006.
Willis is very active in the community, visiting numerous schools and representing the organization at holiday-related events.
Willis made $4.35 million in 2006 and is in line to make more than $6 million in arbitration this season.
