Rod Strickland Acquitted

October 28, 1999 / 7:19 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Washington Wizards guard Rod Strickland was acquitted Friday of all charges stemming from a traffic stop in Washington, D.C.

The jury deliberated for five hours before finding the NBA standout innocent of driving under the influence of alcohol.

"I was very happy, obviously," said Strickland, after signing autographs and shaking hands with several members of the jury.

Strickland, 33, spent three days at D.C. Superior Court while the rest of the Wizards prepared for the season at the MCI Center, just three blocks away.

"My priorities are getting in shape and getting ready to play basketball," Strickland said.

The Wizards open the season at home Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks.

Strickland was stopped Nov. 24 following the Hawks' last appearance in the nation's capital.

He was stopped by district police after he allegedly was speeding and ran three traffic lights. A police officer testified that Strickland, 33, was driving down a city street as though "he was on a NASCAR racetrack," and weaving through slower moving traffic.

"We didn't feel that they proved he was intoxicated," said Dottie Wade, forewoman of the jury. Wade said that many members of the jury did not know Strickland was a member of the Wizards until the trial began.

"His judgment was impaired by the second beer he drank," Asst. Corporation Counsel Anthony M. Gagliardi told jurors during closing arguments. The prosecutor said Strickland's failure of three field sobriety tests and his refusal to submit to breathalyzer or blood tests was evidence of his guilt.

"They had no evidence," said Lois Graves, one of several jurors who said they felt the test results were flawed because of the way they were administered.

A conviction could have resulted in a one year jail sentence and a fine of up to $5,000.

Superior Court Judge William Jackson also acquitted Strickland of a separate reckless driving charge that carried a possible penalty of 90 days in jail and a $250 fine.

Strickland was convicted in April of 1998 for driving while impaired. He completed a year's probation and attended an alcohol education program as part of that sentence.