Body camera footage capturing the arrest of golf icon Tiger Woods has been made public, less than a week after the 50-year-old was taken into custody following a vehicle collision in Florida and charged with driving under the influence.
The Martin County Sheriff's Office released the footage on Thursday, offering a more detailed look at the March 27 incident that had already been outlined in a deputies' affidavit. The video shows Woods being handcuffed after failing to complete a series of roadside sobriety exercises.
What the Footage Shows
In the bodycam video, Woods told deputies he had been looking at his phone when the collision occurred.
"I looked down at my phone and all of a sudden, boom," Woods said.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash. According to the arrest report, Woods was driving his Land Rover on Jupiter Island when his SUV failed to slow in time as a pickup truck ahead of him turned into a driveway. His vehicle crossed the centre line, struck a trailer attached to the truck, and rolled onto its side. Woods was forced to exit through the passenger door.
Deputies noted that Woods appeared to be sweating heavily and had glassy, bloodshot eyes, which he initially covered with sunglasses. His movement was described in the arrest report as "lethargic and slow," though he remained alert and co-operative throughout.
Prescription Medications and Pills Found
Woods told officers he had not consumed alcohol that day but had taken "a few" prescription medications, the names of which were redacted in the official report. Audio of Woods describing those medications was muted in the released footage.
During the encounter, two pills were discovered in Woods' pocket. Woods was heard identifying one of them as a Norco — a medication combining hydrocodone and acetaminophen. The pills were subsequently confirmed to be the opioid painkiller hydrocodone, according to the affidavit.
Woods also informed officers during the sobriety testing that he had undergone seven back surgeries and more than 20 surgeries on his right leg, adding that his ankle seizes when he walks.
Arrest, Tests, and Legal Proceedings
Woods was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Martin County Jail. He consented to a breathalyser test, which returned a negative result for alcohol. However, he declined to provide a urine sample — a refusal that resulted in an additional charge on top of the DUI count.
Court documents filed by Woods' legal team this week confirmed he has pleaded not guilty to all charges and waived his right to a formal arraignment. Woods later issued a statement via social media indicating he intended to step back from public life to seek treatment.
Source: CBS News. The Associated Press contributed to the original report.