Former New York Yankee Johnny Damon mentioned his support for former President Donald Trump and the “Blue Lives Matter movement” during a traffic stop and subsequent DWI arrest on February 19.
From the report of Windermere Police Officer Griffin Hebel, edited for clarity and brevity:
On February 19, 2021 at approximately 0123 hours, I was monitoring traffic near Conroy Windermere Road and Horizon Circle in the Town of Windermere, Florida and sitting facing westbound on the westbound shoulder of Conroy Windermere Road in a fully marked Windermere Police Department patrol vehicle. I observed a dark in color SUV traveling westbound past me with its left two tires on the double-yellow line on the left side of the westbound lane of Conroy Windermere Road. I observed the vehicle’s left tires then drift back toward the right side of the of lane, continuing westbound on Conroy Windermere Road.
As we approached the intersection of Chase Road and Bridgehouse Road, I called out traffic stop on the vehicle via the radio to Dispatch, then activated my emergency lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop on the black Lincoln SUV and the vehicle yielded, entering the right turn lane then turning onto Bridgehouse Road and stopping just prior to the resident entry gate for Lake Butler Sound. As I approached the vehicle on the driver’s side, I observed the driver’s door swing open and I began giving verbal commands to the driver close his door. As I was giving commands to the driver, I observed a white female standing at the right rear of the vehicle in a short skirt and white top and I ordered her to get back in the vehicle. At this time, I asked Officer Tuck to respond to assist. The female then walked back to the front passenger door and got back in the vehicle. I then gave the driver commands to turn the vehicle off and hen step to the back of his vehicle.
I asked the male what was going on out with both of them stepping out of the vehicle, and the male, later identified by his Florida driver’s license as Johnny Damon, advised “Um, because we saw you following us…” I advised Damon that I was there because the interaction was a traffic stop and he then asked “What traffic stop?” I asked if he could see the police lights, which he confirmed he could, stating that they “…started back there…” while pointing toward the entrance to the turn lane where I had initially turned my lights and sirens on.
As observed Damon, he was extremely unsteady on his feet and his speech was extremely slurred. detected the odor of alcoholic impurities coming from his person as we stood the rear of his vehicle. I explained to Damon that would continue speaking with him about the reasons for the stop after backup officer arrived on scene. At this time, I asked Damon how much he had to drink during the evening. and he stated “…just little bit.” White motioning with his left hand and fingers in a small pinching motion.
I began explaining to Damon that while I had been traveling behind him, his vehicle had left its lane multiple times and struck the curb while traveling on Main on Street. While explaining this to Damon, the passenger door of the vehicle begin to open. I began giving the white female passenger verbal commands to stay the vehicle and shut the door. The female disobeyed my commands to stay in the vehicle, stepping out and stating that she didn’t need to listen to me.
