Tony Romo’s OWI arrest in Wisconsin is now under an even brighter spotlight after newly released bodycam footage captured the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback arguing with an officer during the traffic stop.
Romo was pulled over on a Milwaukee interstate shortly after 6 p.m. on July 23. In video obtained by the California Post, the retired NFL star appeared surprised that he had been stopped and quickly told the officer he had been coming from a golf course and was headed to see “Grandma and Grandpa.”
When asked whether he had been drinking, Romo said he had consumed “zero” alcoholic beverages.
The officer then asked him to step out of his Jeep for field sobriety testing, but Romo repeatedly said he wanted to call his attorney. He also began recording the encounter on his iPhone as the two went back and forth.
At one point, Romo asked the officer directly, “Because I’m coming from a golf course you think I’m drunk?”
The officer told him he was being detained for a possible OWI and said she wanted to move him to a safer location before performing the field sobriety tests. Romo was then placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a squad car.
After they arrived at a nearby police station, the officer explained that she suspected impairment because Romo allegedly had “red glassy eyes” and smelled of alcohol. She also said officers found unopened alcohol shooters in his bag.
Romo told police that the ride to the station had aggravated old back injuries, and he was seen stretching several times during the sobriety testing.
The former quarterback was asked to follow a pen with his eyes, walk in a straight line and stand on one leg. According to the footage, he appeared to struggle with portions of the tests.
The encounter escalated further when the officer asked Romo whether he would submit to a breath test.
“Oh, no,” he responded. “We’re not doing that. I’ve heard from all the lawyers don’t ever do that. So, we’re not going to do that.”
Romo was then arrested and booked on one count of operating while intoxicated, first offense.
Milwaukee County court records previously showed Romo was also cited for “refusing to take test for intoxication after arrest.” A spokesperson for the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office said the matter was considered “a traffic violation and not a criminal charge” based on the allegations against him.
Romo has not publicly addressed the arrest. He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 21.
The former Cowboys quarterback played in Dallas from 2004 to 2016 before moving into broadcasting with CBS, where he became one of the NFL’s most recognizable commentators. In 2020, he signed a reported 10-year, $180 million deal with the network.
CBS reportedly does not plan to fire Romo over the incident, though The Daily Mail reported he is expected to “step back a little” from the spotlight following the embarrassing arrest.
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