Red Wings prospect dressed as Teletubby faces 'super drunk' charge
The Detroit Red Wings' top draft pick in 2010 was charged with "super drunk" driving after a traffic stop in Grand Rapids, Mich., in late October while wearing a purple Teletubby costume.
Center Riley Sheahan's blood-alcohol level was .30, nearly four times the legal limit in Michigan, when he was arrested on Oct. 29 by Grand Rapids police, who spotted him going the wrong direction on a one-way street, MLive.com reported. In Michigan, a driver with a level of .17 or higher is considered "super drunk."
Sheahan, 20, who plays for the minor-league Grand Rapids Griffins, was dressed as Tinky Winky, one of the characters on the Teletubby children's show.
Police said the former Notre Dame player also was carrying the driver's license of teammate Brendan Smith, 23, and charged with providing false information. In the police report, Sheahan said he was carrying Smith's license as identification to get into bars. Police initially thought they had arrested Smith.
Sheahan faces a potential sentence of 180 days in jail and possible deportation because he's a native of St. Catharines, Ontario, and not a U.S. citizen.
The alcohol-related arrest was the second for Sheahan, who was charged with public intoxication and consumption by a minor during his freshman year at Notre Dame.
"He's getting help right now and will continue to get help," Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill told MLive.com.
Sheahan pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing on Nov. 6. He is scheduled for a Dec. 13 court hearing.
The 6-foot-2, 212-pound center was not made available for comment by the Griffins. He has three goals and two assists in 15 games this season.
