Red Wings’ Klima Jailed Again on Drunk Driving

Detroit Red Wings star Petr Klima, who vowed in December he would never drive drunk again, was in jail this morning after his arrest on another drunk-driving charge.

Klima, on probation for an October incident, was arrested about 10:30 p.m. Monday by police from Bloomfield Township and taken to the Oakland County jail, Police Sgt. Mike Aperauch said.

Unidentified police sources told the Detroit News that Klima was arrested for driving under the influence of liquor.

Subdued on Lawn

A witness told the Detroit Free Press in today’s editions that Klima was pulled over along a road near Troy. Michael Hrynik, 18, who lives nearby, said he saw police administer breath and dexterity tests to Klima.

Klima ran when police tried to handcuff him, but was subdued on a nearby lawn, handcuffed and driven away in the police car, Hrynik said.

Klima, 24, defected from Czechoslovakia in 1985 and joined the Red Wings at left wing.

He was placed on probation after a conviction for drunk driving in 1987. In October, Royal Oak police arrested him on a drunk-driving charge, and he drew a 31-day jail sentence for probation violation. He served a day of that sentence and lived for nine days in a Detroit hospital, working with sick and injured children.

“I will never sit behind the wheel again after I’ve been drinking, not even in my driveway,” Klima said in December.

License Suspended

On Feb. 7, Klima drew a four-day jail sentence for the October incident. He also was placed on 18 months’ probation and his driver’s license was suspended for six months.