College Football Player Arrested Despite Being Sober

A college football player found himself in jail for drunk driving after he accidentally hit a parked car. Oddly enough, he registered a zero on the breathalyzer and had no drugs in his system.

McLane Finneran, 19, crashed into the parked vehicle in a vacant parking lot at Shorter University following a late-night study session on October 2. He called the Rome police himself to report the accident, as he wanted to file an official report.

“I did what I was taught,” Finneran remarked about his decision to contact the authorities.

According to reports, police conducted a breathalyzer test, confirming he had no alcohol. They proceeded with field sobriety tests as well.

During the arrest, an officer stated, “Based on the accident you caused and the field sobriety tests we conducted, I have probable cause to believe you were under the influence of something other than alcohol.”

Finneran spent the night in jail. However, subsequent tests performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation showed no illegal drugs or prescriptions in his system. This incident has reignited discussions about the reliability of field sobriety tests.

A study from the Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that police officers deemed 49% of sober participants as impaired during marijuana-related sobriety tests.

“If someone gets arrested when they’re sober and not drunk, that’s a problem,” expressed Christine Finneran, McClain’s mother.

After receiving the test results, prosecutors decided to drop the drunk driving charge. Following that, Finneran made the decision to enter the transfer portal to leave Shorter University.

While the Rome police contended that the officer had “sufficient probable cause to make the initial arrest,” he faced disciplinary action for completing an incomplete report.