Tiger Woods Shocked by DUI Arrest in Newly Released Bodycam Footage After Florida Crash
JUPITER ISLAND, Fla. — Body camera footage released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office has captured the dramatic moments leading to golf legend Tiger Woods’ DUI arrest following a rollover crash last week, showing the 50-year-old athlete expressing disbelief as he was handcuffed roadside.
The video, made public on Thursday, details the aftermath of Woods’ March 27 accident on a residential road in the upscale Jupiter Island community, where his speeding Land Rover SUV clipped the back of a truck before rolling onto its side. No other vehicles or individuals were injured in the single-vehicle incident.
Sobriety Tests and Arrest
In the footage, Deputy Tatiana Levenar of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office conducts field sobriety tests on Woods, who appears unsteady, hiccuping, sweating profusely, lethargic, and with bloodshot eyes, according to the arrest report. Woods continuously moved his head during one test, requiring multiple instructions to keep it straight.
“I do believe your normal faculties are impaired, and you’re under an unknown substance, so at this time you’re under arrest for DUI,” Levenar informs Woods.[1]
Woods responds with astonishment: “I’m being arrested?” as he stands alongside the road. “Yes, sir,” the deputy confirms, before handcuffing him.[1][2]
Pills Found in Pocket
Following the arrest, deputies search Woods’ pockets and discover two white pills, which he identifies as Norco — a painkiller containing acetaminophen and the opioid hydrocodone. Authorities later confirmed the presence of hydrocodone.[1][3]
Woods admits in the muted footage to taking “a few” medications earlier that day but denies consuming alcohol. Breathalyzer tests returned zeros, indicating no alcohol in his system, though he refused a urine test.[5]
Account of the Crash
Explaining the crash to deputies while kneeling on a lawn, Woods states: “I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden — boom.” He mentions he was looking at his phone and changing the radio station at the time.[1]
At one point, Woods wanders off from the scene, telling deputies he was on the phone with President Trump.[2]
Legal Proceedings and Response
In a court filing, Woods has pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge. A Florida judge has allowed him to leave the country for treatment, and in a statement, Woods announced he is stepping away from golf to enter a treatment program.[4]
Levenar wrote in her report: “Based on my observations of Woods, how he performed the exercises and based on my training, knowledge, and experience, I believed that Woods’ normal faculties were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle.”[1]
Public Reaction and Woods’ History
The release of the bodycam video has reignited discussions about Woods’ past struggles with pain management and addiction, stemming from multiple back surgeries and his infamous 2017 DUI arrest, which he attributed to prescription medications.
Legal analyst Dave Aronberg, speaking to Inside Edition, analyzed the footage, noting the deputies’ suspicions of impairment due to the sobriety test performance and the discovered pills.[2]
Social media erupted with reactions, from fans expressing concern for Woods’ health to critics questioning his judgment. “Tiger needs help, not handcuffs,” one supporter tweeted, while others highlighted the zero breathalyzer results as evidence against alcohol involvement.
Broader Implications
This incident underscores ongoing concerns about prescription drug use among athletes, particularly those managing chronic pain from sports injuries. Hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, is commonly prescribed but carries risks of impairment when mixed with other medications.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office emphasized in their release that the investigation remains ongoing, with Woods facing potential penalties including fines, license suspension, and mandatory substance abuse courses if convicted.
As Woods enters treatment, the golf world watches closely. Despite recent professional setbacks, his legacy as a 15-time major champion remains untarnished for many, though this episode serves as a stark reminder of personal battles behind the fairways.
The full bodycam footage is available through the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and major news outlets, providing unprecedented transparency into the arrest.