Lab Analysis Allows Boston DUI Case To Move Forward
Published: Sep 7, 2007
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PINELLAS PARK - David Boston's NFL career is in jeopardy again after police said Thursday a laboratory analysis turned up at least one illegal substance in the urine of the Bucs wide receiver, who was arrested Aug. 23 after he was found asleep behind the wheel at a traffic light.
"We have received the results, and we are proceeding with the charges," said Bruce Bartlett, chief assistant state attorney in the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office. "The results will be out in due time."
Boston, who is facing a misdemeanor DUI charge, had said the analysts wouldn't find anything in his urine sample.
Boston finished Thursday's practice at One Buc Place and appeared to be learning of the news as he left the field with a team official. He initially had no comment, but later issued a statement through the team.
"All I am able to say at this time is that I have done nothing wrong; I was not impaired. I have assured, and will continue to assure, the Buccaneers that I have done nothing wrong," Boston said. "And in the end, when this matter is resolved, the facts will show that I have done nothing wrong. I appreciate the Buccaneers organization believing in me and the fans for their support."
Bucs coach Jon Gruden said he also was just learning of the news as he left the practice field. As a result, he said he would withhold comment until he learned more.
"Once we get some information we'll move on accordingly," Gruden said. "We'll see for ourselves exactly what is going on with this case, and we'll react accordingly."
Bucs General Manager Bruce Allen issued an emphatic statement Aug. 25 saying the team had investigated the charges against Boston and had found no "objective evidence to support the charges."
Asked about that statement on Thursday, Gruden said again that he would withhold comment until he was given more information.
"Once we get the information, we'll have a statement at that time," Gruden said. "Right now, I'm not going to plead the fifth; but I don't have any information at my fingertips. When we do, we'll have something to say."
Allen declined to speak to the media.
Boston's attorney, Ron Hanes, had not seen the results of the analysis.
"There's something highly unusual going on in Pinellas Park, it seems to me, " he said. "We are entirely confident that David is going to come out on the right side of this."
On Aug. 23, just before 7:30 p.m., Boston was found asleep at the wheel of a sport utility vehicle that was stopped in traffic on a major road in Pinellas Park, according to a police report.
After authorities arrived, Boston woke up. He took a breath test, and the results showed he didn't have any alcohol in his system.
Later, at the Pinellas County Jail, his urine was tested for 10 common drugs - among them cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, barbiturates, opiates, ecstasy and Oxycontin. His urine contained none of these drugs, a police report says.
A sample of Boston's urine also was sent to the Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory. Analysts were asked to test for additional substances: GHB, PCP, Ketamine, DXM and Dextromethorphan, as well as inhalants and anesthetics.
Experts describe GHB as a bodybuilding agent that also works as a sedative and causes people to go to sleep. DXM, the acronym for Dextromethorphan, is a common ingredient in cough and cold medicines. These are all so-called dissociative anesthetics - drugs that, depending on the amount used, can alter a user's perception to the point they don't feel pain, said Cynthia Lewis-Younger, medical director for the Florida Poison Information Center in Tampa.
The laboratory was also asked to test Boston's urine for inhalants, which alter a person's sensory perception, Lewis-Younger said.
Boston, 29, told a lieutenant he was driving in from an unfamiliar area. He told police he had come from Celebration outside Orlando and was on his way to Tampa International Airport.
Boston told police he also had fallen asleep in a similar episode last year.
Police told Boston he was swaying back and forth and had trouble keeping his balance during a field sobriety test, the report said. He said his left knee was bad and that he had had surgery on both knees, the report says.
Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.
