WR Henry arrested on DUI charge

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was arrested early Saturday morning after a routine traffic stop and charged with driving under the influence.

Henry was stopped at 1:18 a.m. Saturday by Ohio Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Shimko.

Henry was traveling 82 miles an hour on Interstate 275 North, according to the police report.
The officer said he smelled the odor of alcohol about Henry and his vehicle and administered field sobriety tests. At that time, the officer determined that Henry was under the influence of alcohol and placed him under arrest.

Henry was taken to the Milford Police Department, where, at 2:06 a.m., he voluntarily submitted to a breath test. He measured .092 blood-alcohol content. The legal limit in Ohio is .08.

Henry was released to the custody of a friend, police said. Henry will appear Friday, June 9, in Clermont Municipal Court. Police also said Henry was polite and courteous in his dealings with the officer.

The DUI charge is another legal blemish for Henry and the Bengals.

Last week, Henry’s trial for carrying a concealed firearm earlier this year in Orlando was moved to Aug. 21, according to Orange County (Fla.) court records. Henry, 23, was arrested Jan. 28 in Orlando and charged with possession of a concealed firearm, improper exhibition of a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm.

A pretrial conference is set for Aug. 8 in Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit Court.

According to the police report, he was a member of a party riding in a limousine that got into a conflict with another group. Henry allegedly pulled a 9mm Luger from the waistline of his pants, pointed it at someone on a downtown Orlando sidewalk and then tossed the gun back into the limo.

In December, Henry was arrested on charges of marijuana possession in Covington. He pled guilty to the charge but avoided jail time by entering a drug rehab program as a part of his plea agreement.

The Bengals had no comment today on Henry’s arrest Saturday, though coach Marvin Lewis is said to be aware of it. The Bengals’ policy is not to comment on charges against any of its players while the legal process is ongoing.

Depending on the results of the Florida case, Henry could face additional disciplinary action from the NFL that would go beyond possible court sentencing.

On Saturday, Bengals rookie linebacker A.J. Nicholson was to return to Florida to meet with law enforcement officials there, according to a statement issued by the Bengals on Thursday.

Nicholson and another former Florida State player face charges of burglary and grand theft after allegedly stealing about $1,700 worth of electronic equipment from the Tallahassee, Fla., home of Florida State running back Lorenzo Booker and his two roommates last month.

Tallahassee police issued three warrants charging Nicholson, a fifth-round draft pick who led the Seminoles in tackles the past two seasons, with grand theft and burglary, both felonies, and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.

A call to Tallahassee Police made this afternoon seeking information whether Nicholson surrendered was not immediately returned.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com