DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -Former major leaguer Jim Leyritz who is facing trial on DUI manslaughter charges was taken to a Florida hospital after telling police he was concerned about failing a Breathalyzer test, and was “under a lot of stress” because of his legal problems.
The 45-year-old former catcher and designated hitter faces an upcoming trial in Fort Lauderdale in the December 2007 crash that killed a woman.
Davie police spokesman Bill Coyne says Leyritz had blown into the Breathalyzer in an attempt to start his car, but the device indicated he had been drinking. Leyritz tried the device a second time, which read he had not been drinking.
Leyritz told police he was not drinking, and officers noted in the report that there was no evidence of alcohol or drug use.
lation of his bail conditions.
A court-ordered device to monitor blood alcohol content was installed in Leyritz’s car in April 2008. He has to blow in the device before starting it, and periodically while driving. Authorities said in February that the device had recorded that Leyritz had blown into it after consuming alcohol four times since it was installed.
Coyne says a friend of Leyritz’s called Wednesday evening to have officers check on him at his home in Davie, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. The caller said she was concerned about his well-being.
Leyritz told police he was having trouble sleeping, was anxious and may need medical attention.
Leyritz was released from a psychiatric unit at Memorial Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., Thursday afternoon, his ex-wife, Karri Leyritz told The New York Post.
Leyritz played for six teams and last was in the majors in 2000 with the Dodgers. He won the World Series with the Yankees in 1996 and 1999.
A message left Thursday with the answering service of Leyritz’s attorney J. David Bogenschutz was not immediately returned.
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