MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — University of Minnesota men’s basketball assistant coach Saul Smith was speeding on the shoulder of Interstate 394 early Saturday morning before being arrested for DWI, according to new details released by the Minnesota State Patrol.
Smith, son of Gophers’ head coach Tubby Smith, was stopped on westbound I-394 in the area of Theodore Wirth Parkway at 2:20 a.m. A trooper had previously observed his vehicle, a 2012 Chevy Traverse, driving on the shoulder and recording speeds between 70 and 80 mph in a 55 mph speed limit zone.
After stopping the vehicle, the trooper observed that Smith’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, his speech was slurred and his reactions were slow. The trooper also detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage inside the vehicle.
After a field sobriety test was performed, Smith was placed under arrest for DWI and taken to the Hennepin County Jail.
A breath test taken at the jail resulted in a .18 alcohol concentration. Smith was then booked into the jail.
The University of Minnesota announced Sunday that Smith was placed on indefinite unpaid administrative leave.
