Former Ohio State left tackle Alex Boone was arrested for resisting arrest, obstruction of a law enforcement officer and may face additional charges.
Ohio State had a night worthy of celebration Sunday as former Buckeye wide receiver Santonio Holmes caught the Super Bowl-winning touchdown for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was named the game’s MVP. One Buckeye took the celebration too far.
Ohio State left tackle Alex Boone was arrested for resisting arrest and obstruction of a law enforcement officer following an apparent drunken tirade in Aliso Viejo, Calif., in which officers had to use a Taser in order to take him into custody.
A spokesman for the Orange County Sherrif’s Department said a call came in from a resident of an apartment complex in the upper-middle class neighborhood around 11:30 p.m.
“[Boone] was jumping up and down on cars and pounding on garage doors,” Jim Amormino said.
Amormino said Boone got into an altercation with a tow truck driver who said that Boone tried to break the driver side window of the tow truck and was jumping up and down on the back of the tow truck and wanted to fight the driver.
The dispute apparently involved a vehicle but not one owned by Boone.
“There was no rhyme or reason for [it],” Amormino said. “He wasn’t driving but he was at least three times the legal limit [of .08].”
In the midst of jumping up and down on the tow truck, the 6-foot-8, 312 pound tackle fell to the ground.
Amormino said Boone ran once deputies arrived.
“Deputies chased him on foot,” Amormino said, “they found him hiding next to a patio in the apartment complex.”
Once law enforcement found Boone, he would not follow orders and yelled and cursed at the officers, being “very uncooperative.”
Officers used a Taser to subdue the 21-year-old from Lakewood, Ohio, and bring him into custody. Boone was “dry Tased.”
“Dry Tased is, he wasn’t shot with a dart,” Amormino said. “The [Taser] gun was used – you press against the body when you use it instead of shooting darts, mainly a pain compliance.”
After he was taken into custody, Boone was so intoxicated that officers feared for his safety and called paramedics, who then transported him to Saddleback Hospital where he continued to yell and curse at the medical staff and nurses.
After the hospital visit, Boone was taken to the Orange County jail where Amormino said he made verbal threats toward deputies, delaying his booking process several hours.
“We put him in the medical ward in a single cell ’til he sobered up,” Amormino said. “He may face additional charges if the victims come back and discover their vehicles were damaged.”
According to the Orange County Sheriff Department’s Web site, Boone was released on bail at 4:49 p.m. Pacific time Monday. The amount of the bail was not listed.
Boone, a four-year starter along OSU’s offensive line, was an all Big-Ten selection this year and recipient of the Jim Parker Award for offensive lineman at December’s team banquet.
He is expected to be selected in April’s NFL Draft and was invited to take part in the NFL Scouting Combine, which begins Feb. 19 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Calls to Ohio State’s Department of Athletics seeking comment from coach Jim Tressel were not returned.
