TENNESSEE – According to court records, former Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton was charged with driving under the influence on March 18th in Knox County, Tennessee.
An incident report from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office states that Helton was driving a Ford pickup truck when he left the roadway and hit a steel telephone pole.
According to a report obtained by Tennessee news station WBIR, “The arrestee admitted that he had taken an Ambien” at his home, approximately four hours prior. The report also stated that officers “observed a plastic travel cup in the vehicle that had the odor of an alcoholic beverage inside of the cup.”
The report said officers did not conduct a standard field sobriety test or interview Helton in depth on the scene because he was taken to an area hospital for further evaluation and medical treatment. Helton voluntarily gave blood for chemical testing while at the hospital.
According to reporting partner 9News in Denver, a statement from Helton’s attorney said that he is currently is a residential treatment program in Tennessee.
“He realizes there are parts of his behavior that need to change, and he is focused on doing just that,” the statement from attorney Stephen Ross Johnson reads.
The statement also said, “Because of those first responders, he was not seriously injured. Mr. Helton is grateful for the support of his family and community and asks for their prayers.”
Helton had previously been sentenced for driving while ability is impaired in 2013 when he was a member of the Rockies. He was arrested on Feb. 6, 2013 at a Thornton gas station after a witness said they saw his truck swerve into a median before pulling into the gas station.
Helton was the Rockies’ number 1 pick in the 1995 MLB Draft and his number was retired in 2014.
According to 9News, his DUI arraignment is set for April 1st.
