This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
No high speed chase scene here, folks: NBA star Lamar Odom was busted early Friday morning for a suspected DUI, and he was pulled over for going too slowly on the freeway.
Odom was at the wheel of a white Mercedes SUV just before 4 a.m. when the California Highway Patrol flagged him for going about 50 MPH on the 101 Freeway in the Valley, according to TMZ.
Specifically, authorities said Odom was driving in a "serpentine manner."
It wasn't an easy pull over though; Odom went past three exits before stopping for the officers after exiting the freeway at Coldwater Canyon. When confronted by the CHP, Odom "showed obvious signs of intoxication," and flunked several field sobriety tests.
"Odom was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and possibly drugs," reports L.A. Now. He was booked at a nearby police station, and reportedly "refused all chemical tests."
Earlier this week reports circulated that Odom was feared missing. His erratic behavior of late has been attributed to an alleged hardcore drug problem.
UPDATE 1:10 PM
Authorities confirm Odom refused testing, which resulted in the athlete losing his license, reports City News Service.
"[W]e took his license and gave him a form stating that his license was automatically suspended for the next year. That goes into immediate effect," said CHP West Valley spokesman Officer Leland Tang, adding: "That's also the law across the board in California."
Without a test, the CHP don't know what was impairing Odom early Friday morning as he drove on the freeway.
Odom's bail was set at $15,000, which he posted around 8:30 a.m. He is tentatively scheduled to appear in court in Van Nuys on September 27.
