Mondesi Arrested in Glendale for Driving Under Influence

Dodger center fielder Raul Mondesi was arrested early Saturday morning for driving under the influence of alcohol, a Glendale police spokesman said.

The incident occurred at approximately 2 a.m. as two officers observed Mondesi driving erratically in Glendale north on Adams Street near Colorado Street with his high beams on, said Sgt. Paul Hayashida.

Mondesi stopped his car for approximately a minute, blocking the path of other vehicles, and then proceeded to drive at a slow speed before making a U-turn, Hayashida said.

Eventually, the officers stopped the vehicle to investigate. After several requests, Mondesi produced a Florida driver’s license.

Hayashida said Mondesi was advised of the reason for the stop and was asked to perform a sobriety test, which he failed.

“He was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and transported to the Glendale city jail,” Hayashida said. “Several times during the stop he indicated to the officers he was a Dodger.”

Team officials would not disclose the reason Mondesi was held out of the lineup in Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies, but Fred Claire, executive vice president, released a statement after the game saying that the team elected not to play Mondesi because of a personal matter.

When contacted at home Saturday night, Derrick Hall, Dodger media relations director, said the team wouldn’t comment further on Mondesi’s arrest.

“At this point, we just have to leave it where it is with Fred’s statement that Raul was taken out of [Saturday’s] lineup because of personal matters,” Hall said. “We’ll learn more about the situation [today].”