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June 4, 2012

Former OSU receiver arrested

Stillwater NewsPress The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — STILLWATER - Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick receiver Justin Blackmon, who helped lead the Oklahoma State Cowboys to a record season last year, posted $1,000 bail Sunday shortly before 1 p.m. and was released from the Payne County Jail after he was arrested on an aggravated DUI charge, authorities said.

Stillwater police say Blackmon tested .24 on a breathalyzer test after an officer stopped a sport utility vehicle driving 60 mph in a 35 mph zone and driving in the oncoming lane of traffic. Police attempted to stop the SUV shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday but the driver failed to stop for four blocks before eventually pulling into a gas station at McElroy and Perkins Road, Stillwater police spokesman Capt. Randy Dickerson said.

Police identified Blackmon as the driver and reported Blackmon smelled like alcohol, was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and glassy and bloodshot eyes.

The investigating officer reported Blackmon, who was alone in the car, admitted drinking before driving. Blackmon agreed to a breathalyzer test to measure alcohol at the Stillwater jail and the test result was .24 — three times the legal limit in Oklahoma. Blackmon was jailed on a complaint of aggravated driving under the influence, which reflects a test result of .15 or greater. Oklahoma law sets the minimum at .08 for a charge of driving under the influence.

The Jaguars drafted Blackmon, 22, with the fifth pick in this year’s NFL draft in the hopes that he can upgrade the league’s worst offense.

“We are aware of the report and are gathering information,” Jaguars spokesman Dan Edwards said. “We don’t have any comment at this time.”

A sports memorabilia company reported Blackmon had been scheduled to sign autographs in Houston Saturday but had backed out the day of the event, with his representative telling company officials Blackmon was sick.

Blackmon was previously arrested on a DUI charge in Texas in 2010 after officers caught him speeding on a suburban Dallas highway while returning to Stillwater from a Dallas Cowboys game.

He told reporters after the arrest in 2010 that he made a mistake and took full responsibility for it.

“I’m embarrassed to be in this position,” Blackmon said. “I’m truly sorry to my family, to my friends and to Oklahoma State all together. I look forward to redeeming myself and proving to everybody that this isn’t who I am. I’m not this guy. I’m humbled by this experience and I will grow from it.”

The Jaguars traded up to select Blackmon in April.

The 6-foot-1, 207-pounder caught 122 passes for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns last season at Oklahoma State. He had 111 receptions for 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns the year before.

“He’s got an edge to him,” new Jacksonville coach Mike Mularkey said earlier this year. “He’s one of these guys who doesn’t think he can be covered. That’s pretty important at that position with that kind of confidence, that you can line up and dare somebody to try to stop you and believe that you can’t be. I like that edge.”

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