Legendary Gymnast Mary Lou Retton Arrested For DUI — See The Heartbreaking Bodycam Footage!
Legendary gymnast Mary Lou Retton was arrested for a DUI, and the bodycam footage of the moment is just as hard to watch as her Olympics videos were inspiring…
According to court records obtained by WDTV, the 57-year-old athlete was charged with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs in Marion County, West Virginia, on May 17. See her tearful mugshot (below):
Whoa…
Per the outlet, police officers from the Fairmont City Police Department responded to reports of a Porsche with a Texas license plate driving “all over the roadway” near downtown Fairmont that day. The Associated Press reported, citing a criminal complaint, that Mary was then seen in her car in an AutoZone parking lot with a screw-top bottle of wine in her passenger seat. When officers arrived on the scene, the Olympian reeked of alcohol and slurred her words. Cops conducted a sobriety test, which she failed. She also refused to take a roadside breath and blood test, per the complaint.
Entertainment Tonight obtained and posted the body camera footage of the May arrest on YouTube on Tuesday, and the whole thing is heartbreaking to view. In it, a police officer instructs Mary Lou to do a sobriety test, and she struggles to complete the process. The cop has her lift her foot six inches off the ground and count until he tells her to stop. However, she cannot follow instructions, stopping multiple times early, nor can she maintain her balance. Heartbreaking for a gold medal-winning gymnast…
Related: Brad Pitt Joined AA Because He ‘Needed To Wake The F**k Up’ After Angelina Jolie Split!
While Mary is more or less compliant, she expresses shock and frustration over the situation, saying, “Oh my god,” throughout the process. At one point, she struggles to breathe and puts the tube from her oxygen tank to her nose. For those who don’t recall, Mary suffered from a rare form of pneumonia in 2023 and almost didn’t make it. Sadly, it looks like she continues to struggle with her health to this day.
Ultimately, as we previously said, Mary failed her sobriety test and was arrested for a DUI. She was then transported to the police station, where you can hear her in the backseat at times suffering from shortness of breath again. Oof. As Mary and the cops enter the station, she tells one of the officers:
“He’s too young to know who I am.”
He then replies:
“I know who you are.”
Mary adds:
“I know you know who I am. Come on.”
Regardless, the officer notes he needs “to do my job no matter who you are.” To which she responds:
“I’m West Virginia’s First Daughter.”
Inside, Mary, in tears, continued to struggle to breathe, gasping for air several times. Watch the full footage (below):
Oh man… No one wants to see a legend like Mary in this state…
Mary entered a no-contest plea to a non-aggravated DUI charge and received a $100 fine, which is standard for a first-time, non-aggravated offense in the area. Following the arrest, she said through her attorney, Edmund J. Rollo, that she takes “full accountability” for her actions:
“What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses. To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry. I am determined to learn and grow from this experience, and I am committed to making positive changes in my life. I truly appreciate your concern, encouragement and continued support.”
Hopefully, Mary learns from this incident and doesn’t get behind the wheel intoxicated again…
What are your reactions to the bodycam footage, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments.
[Image via Fairmont Police Department, The Kelly Clarkson Show/Olympics/YouTube]
The post Legendary Gymnast Mary Lou Retton Arrested For DUI — See The Heartbreaking Bodycam Footage! appeared first on Perez Hilton.
