Alabama offensive lineman Alphonse Taylor has been found not guilty of a DUI.
Taylor was charged with a DUI and leaving the scene of an accident at a Tuscaloosa apartment complex on July 17. Court records released indicated that Taylor tested negative for alcohol, but performed poorly on field sobriety tests.
Tuscaloosa Municipal Judge Ricky McKinney ruled Tuesday that Taylor was not guilty of the DUI charge. The judge is expected to issue a ruling on the leaving the scene of an accident charge after the vehicle that was struck has been repaired, said Taylor's attorney, Jason Neff.
"Of course I am pleased with this verdict," he said. "I hope Mr. Taylor will have an opportunity to move forward with his football career."
Taylor called Tuscaloosa Police at 8:50 a.m. that Sunday to report that he had struck a vehicle in the parking lot off The Woodlands off Hargrove Road.
"I immediately noticed that Taylor's speech was very slow and he appeared lethargic," the responding officer wrote in the arrest report. "Taylor advised that he had not been drinking, he did not take medication and had no medical problems."
The officer wrote that Taylor was reclining in his 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe when he arrived. Taylor told the officer that he had bumped his head on the steering wheel. The 911 call taker who dispatched the officer to the accident reported that Taylor was very difficult to understand. The officer found a nearby vehicle that Taylor had struck, and later charged him with DUI and leaving the scene of an accident.
Taylor provided two breath samples at 9:19 a.m. The tests showed that he had a 0.0 blood alcohol content.
He has been suspended from the team indefinitely, but continues to participate in practice.
Taylor started all 15 games of the 2015 season at right guard. He worked with the second unit on the offensive line in the spring after beginning practice overweight but was expected to be an anchor on the offensive line again this fall. He was named preseason second-team All-SEC by the media earlier this month.
