He was pulled over by police nearly a month ago. Now, new details reveal that Grand Rapids Griffins player, Riley Sheahan, was dressed as a purple Teletubby the night of his drunk driving arrest. Documents from the Grand Rapids Police Department show Sheahan’s blood alcohol level was .30, which is nearly four times the legal limit.
Sheahan, 20, was pulled over on October 29 for driving in the wrong direction down Ottawa Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids. Police say the Ontario native was carrying a Michigan driver’s license belonging to teammate, Brendan Smith. Sheahan admitted to police that he was using the ID to get into bars. Right now investigators are working to determine exactly how he obtained that identification.
Sheahan has been charged with providing false information. He is also being charged under Michigan’s new “super drunk” law, meaning he had a blood alcohol level of .17 or higher. If Sheahan is found guilty he could spend 180 days in jail. He could also be deported, being as he is not a U.S. citizen.
Both Smith and Sheahan were once a Red Wings top pick in the National Hockey League draft. Sheahan’s arrest came one day after the Griffins played a game at Chicago. He did not play the following game at San Antonio. The GRPD said the Griffins are handling the situation internally. They are not making Sheahan available for comment.
This isn’t the first time the hockey player has been in trouble. According to the GRPD, Sheahan was arrested in 2010 for public intoxication when he was a freshman at Notre Dame.
Sheahan pleaded not guilty to these latest charges in November during an arraignment hearing at the Grand Rapids District Court. He is scheduled for his next hearing in December.
