The troubled career of Florida State receiver Preston Parker took another sour turn early Saturday morning when he was charged with DUI first offense.
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Parker, who was allowed back onto the team last summer after an April arrest on gun and drug charges, allegedly was found asleep behind the wheel of his red Dodge Charger in the drive-through lane of a fast-food restaurant.
A news release from from Tallahassee Police states that Parker admitted to using alcohol and smoking marijuana late Friday night. Parker subsequently took a breath test and gave a urine sample -- the urine sample tested "presumptive positive for marijuana."
As a result of a plea agreement, Parker's charges from last April were reduced to misdemeanors and he was allowed to rejoin his teammates after meeting a wide range of stipulations -- he was required to move into an on-campus dorm, perform community service and meet other requirements. Parker also was serving one year of probation from that April case and was required to undergo regular drug testing.
It is unclear what impact Parker's recent arrest will have on his ongoing probation in South Florida, but his future with the Florida State football team is certainly in question.
After Parker's plea deal last May, his Palm Beach attorney told reporters that FSU officials had told him he "was out of chances."
"I think he understands that he's reached the end of the rope with this and he's not going to be getting any other opportunities to turn it around,'' Jason Weiss, Parker's attorney, said at the time. "It's been made very clear to him, to his family, to me through the university that he's out of chances.''
Parker, who recently decided to return for his senior year instead of opting for an early departure for the NFL, enjoyed a breakout season at FSU as a sophomore. He was the Seminoles' leading receiver again in 2008, despite being suspended for the Seminoles' first two games. He caught 40 passes for 372 yards and two touchdowns.
Following is the text of a release from Tallahassee Police:
Last night at approximately 4:42AM the Tallahassee Police Department responded to the McDonald's at 672 W. Tennessee Street in reference to a report that a male was "passed-out" behind the wheel of his car. Upon arrival, the officer observed a red Dodge Charger in the drive-thru line at the restaurant. A witnessed stated that the car had been stopped there for approximately twenty minutes. There were no other cars behind or in front of the Dodge Charger.
Once the officer approached the car he could see that the engine was running, the car was in drive and the male was asleep behind the steering wheel. The officer made several attempts to wake the driver by banging on the window. Eventually the driver woke, took his foot off the brake pedal and the car began to travel forward. The officer yelled to the driver and was finally able to get him to stop the car.
During the course of the investigation officers suspected that the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The driver agreed to conduct field sobriety exercises and at the conclusion of the investigation the driver was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs. Once at the Leon County Jail the driver submitted to a breath test and a urine sample. The breath test resulted in a .054 blood alcohol content. The urine sample was presumptive positive for marijuana. The driver admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana that night. The driver was charged with D.U.I. first offense. During the investigation it was determined that the arrestee is a Florida State University football player.