Seahawks' Lofa Tatupu says he learned from DUI arrest

Seattle, WA

Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu said Friday in a radio interview that his decision to drink and drive, which led to his arrest and sentencing to a day in jail, has been haunting him.

He acknowledged his mistake and thanked the organization for helping him get through the aftermath of his May 10 arrest.

"We are role models and that's something I pride myself on," Tatupu said in an interview Friday afternoon with Dave Mahler on KJR-AM radio. "I really wouldn't have been able to live with myself if someone had been hurt."

Tatupu, a three-time Pro Bowl player and team captain, said team executives were not happy to hear about his DUI arrest, but stood by him. He promised it wouldn't happen again.

"It's something I'll never forget. It sticks with you," Tatupu said. "You just remember it and use better judgment. I'm definitely a better person for it, so some positive has come from it."

Tatupu, 25, pleaded guilty July 7 to DUI and was sentenced to one day in jail and ordered to pay fines and court costs totaling $1,255.

The Seahawks open training camp Thursday.

Tatupu will be a guest referee of a flag-football game on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound tomorrow at Franklin High School. The game will feature as many as 50 mentors and children that are part of the program.

"We are thrilled to have Lofa involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters," said Tina Podlodowski, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound president and CEO, in a statement from the organization. "The experience he brings is such an inspiration, and the kids will be so excited to have the opportunity to be on the field with him. His appearance will leave a lasting impression with attending Bigs and Littles who will be on the field playing in the games."

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Lofa Tatupu arrested for DUI in Washington

Kirkland, WA

Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl linebacker Lofa Tatupu was arrested early Saturday morning for investigation of drunken driving.

Police in Kirkland, the suburban home of the Seahawks' headquarters and practice facility, reported Tatupu registered blood-alcohol levels of .155 and .158 in breath test readings - nearly twice the .08 legal intoxication threshold in Washington. Those tests came almost 90 minutes after the 25-year-old cornerstone of Seattle's defense was handcuffed and driven to the police station.

"I want to apologize to my family, teammates, the Seahawks ownership and organization, and the fans for making a poor decision and putting myself in a bad situation," Tatupu said in a statement released by the team Tuesday.

"I take seriously my role as a leader on this team, and in the community, and because of that I'm disappointed and embarrassed by the level of poor judgment I used last weekend."

The arrest, first reported Tuesday by Seattle radio station KJR-AM, could be an issue for Tatupu and the Seahawks up to training camp in July.

"Lofa intends to handle this situation in a manner consistent with his reputation for integrity and leadership," Jon Scott Fox, who is representing Tatupu in the case, said in a statement. "We understand that Lofa fully cooperated with the police investigation and conducted himself as a gentleman throughout the incident."

A spokeswoman in the records division of the Kirkland Police Department said Tuesday the department had completed its investigation. A spokeswoman for the private firm with which the city of Kirkland contracts to prosecute said her office had not received the police report as of Tuesday. She said that generally it takes a couple of weeks for charging decisions to be made on such DUI cases.

The arrest is particularly embarrassing to the Seahawks, who have held up Tatupu as the example to which they want others players to aspire. In March they gave him a new contract worth $42 million that could keep him in Seattle through 2015.

"How could I want anything else?" Tatupu said then. More >>

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