Reese Witherspoon has issued an apology after she and her husband Jim Toth were arrested early Friday morning in Atlanta for driving under the influence and disorderly conduct. "Out of respect for the ongoing legal situation, I cannot comment on everything that is being reported right now," Reese said. "But I do want to say, I clearly had one drink too many and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said. It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. I have nothing but respect for the police and I'm very sorry for my behavior."
The Legally Blonde actress was charged after a Georgia state officer said she would not stay in the car while her husband Jim was given a field sobriety test. According to the arrest report, the Oscar-winning actress asked the officer if he knew who she was: "do you know my name?," she asked. She is also quoted as saying "you're about to find out who I am" and "you're about to be on national news". The officer had noticed the car driven by her husband was not staying in its lane on Friday morning, so a traffic stop was initiated. Her husband, Jim Toth, had droopy eyelids and watery, bloodshot eyes, and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol, according to the report. Jim told the officer he had had a drink, which Reese, 37, said was consumed at a restaurant two hours before the traffic stop. Before the field sobriety test began, Reese got out of the car and was told to get back in and obeyed. After she got out a second time, the officer said he warned her that she would be arrested if she left the car again.
As the test continued, "Mrs Witherspoon began to hang out the window and say that she did not believe that I was a real police officer. I told Mrs Witherspoon to sit on her butt and be quiet," Trooper First Class J Pyland wrote. Jim was then placed under arrest. He was charged with driving under the influence and failure to maintain the lane. At that point, the report said, Reese got out and asked the trooper what was going on. After being told to return to the car, she "stated that she was a 'US citizen' and that she was allowed to 'stand on American ground,'" the report states. The trooper then began to arrest the star. The report stated that Reese was resistant at first but was calmed down by her husband. The couple were then taken to jail.
