clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

J.T. Barrett cited for OVI Halloween morning, suspended

The Ohio State quarterback controversy takes an unfortunate turn.

Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Just when you thought the Ohio State quarterback situation was finally resolved, another curveball gets thrown. As first reported by Eleven Warriors, J.T. Barrett was detained early Saturday morning for operating a motor vehicle impaired (OVI) near Ohio State's campus.

From 11W:

Barrett was arrested near High and Tompkins, just north of Campus after policed noticed the player attempt to avoid an OVI checkpoint in the area. Per CPD sources, Barrett was cooperative and blew into a breathalyzer, registering slightly over Ohio's legal limit of 0.08 blood-alcohol concentration.

The quarterback was released to his teammate, fellow quarterback Cardale Jones, who provided Barrett a ride home.

ESPN confirmed the report a half hour later:

The Columbus Police Department did not return a call asking for comment but later clarified to The Toledo Blade's Dave Briggs that Barrett did not attempt to evade a check point. Barrett is also only 20 years old, so the legal limit for alcohol is considerably lower (.02) than it would be for someone of legal drinking age (.08). The Columbus Dispatch disputed the original report that Barrett blew a .08, citing a source with the police department indicating he blew a .099.

* * *

UPDATE, 9:35 a.m. ET: Per an Ohio State university statement, Barrett has been suspended for next week's game against Minnesota:

Ohio State University student-athlete J.T. Barrett was cited by Columbus police Saturday morning at a campus area check point with a misdemeanor offense of OVI. Barrett has been suspended by head coach Urban Meyer from playing in Ohio State’s game against Minnesota on Nov. 7.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith told ESPN's Brett McMurphy Barrett was not subjected to longer punishment because the charge was a misdemeanor: