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UGA Baseball Team Staffer Arrested on DUI Charge

2024-12-03

A staff member of the University of Georgia baseball team found themselves in a rather unfortunate situation over the weekend. According to Athens-Clarke police, this individual was arrested on a DUI charge after a police officer witnessed a traffic violation. Derek L. Groomer, who is 28 years old and a director of Player of Performance according to UGA sports, was at the center of this incident.

Unfortunate Incident Involving UGA Baseball Staff

Details of the Incident

The incident report on this case was not made public on Monday. However, police Lt. Katie Jenkins shared that the arrest took place around 3 a.m. when the officer noticed a driver failing to maintain a lane on Alps Road near Baxter Street. Groomer initially agreed to roadside sobriety tests but later withdrew from participating. He then agreed to a breath test, only to change his mind at the police station.

After these events, Groomer was booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail on charges including DUI, failing to maintain a lane, having an expired tag, and having an uninsured vehicle. Surprisingly, he was released from jail on a $1,883 bond about four hours later.

Background and Connections

Groomer made his way to Athens from LSU, where UGA's head baseball coach Wes Johnson had previously coached. This connection adds an interesting layer to the situation, raising questions about how such an incident could occur within the university's baseball community.

When the matter came to light on Saturday, a spokesman for the UGA Athletic Association promptly informed UGA Sports via text. This shows the institution's initial response and efforts to gather information regarding the incident.