Tiger Woods Brushed Off the Cops, and Now They’re Pissed: Florida Highway Patrol Wants Medical Records
Courts, Legal, Golf November 30th. 2009, 8:53am
From TMZ: “The Florida Highway Patrol is now focusing on obtaining a search warrant — allowing them to seize medical records from the hospital that treated Tiger Woods — in an attempt to determine if the wounds Woods sustained are consistent with a car accident or domestic violence.” Not good news for Tiger, who probably thought he could brush this entire kerfuffle off with a pithy statement on his website Sunday. Bad move pissing off the boys in blue, Tiger. Is his next step to just cave and talk to the police, or stand pat and hope that a court won’t grant the police a search warrant?
78 Responses to “Tiger Woods Brushed Off the Cops, and Now They’re Pissed: Florida Highway Patrol Wants Medical Records”
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November 30th, 2009 at 8:56 am
She can beat my ass anytime.
November 30th, 2009 at 8:57 am
She got crazy eyes.
November 30th, 2009 at 8:59 am
why are they doing this?
even if it was domestic violence, he probably would’ve pressed charges now if he wanted to.
i hate this fucking story…just go away.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Half his shit is a whole lotta shit.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Just imagine if it were Sergio who got his ass beat by a Swedish nanny.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:00 am
spencer – the police just got shown up, big-time. on a story everyone is looking at, he just big-time’d ‘em.
major sign of disrespect. i didnt know this was a card they could play … have to wonder if Tiger’s team knew this was coming.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:01 am
A Kobe Special is in order.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Tiger vs erin andrews nude in hotel room in the finals of the 2010 culture tournament
November 30th, 2009 at 9:02 am
why are they doing this?
Because when dealing with famous people, today’s authorities would rather do more and be accused of picking on them than not doing enough and being accused of ignoring stuff.
And I can’t see Tiger wanting to press charges, even if she did claw and beat at him.
Like I said in the Roundup, Tiger is the biggest athlete on the planet. This will be a story until things escalate or Tiger’s team defuse the situation.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Supposing he’s awake, John Daly has to be smiling.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:03 am
TMZ sucks.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:03 am
He’s a phony.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:04 am
so tiger got the shit slapped outta him when wife heard a rumor he was cheating on her. big effin deal.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Police have little to stand on here, but I will yield to my Big Lead legal brethren for the the final take.
Take Tiger out of the equation… If this were any person, rich or otherwise, would the police be taking the time to do this? Of course not.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:04 am
The police are pissed because Tiger brushed them off. However, there’s no actual story because he’s fine, and it was just a fight between him and his wife.
THis story needs to die.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:04 am
daly is passed out nude on a bean bag with a bag of cheetos and an empty bottle of jack daniels
/tater salad’d
November 30th, 2009 at 9:05 am
I don’t give a damn about the issue itself, all I care about is how Tiger is going to respond. The cutting edge of PR > domestic violence
November 30th, 2009 at 9:06 am
so they have nothing better to do with their time than to pester a guy about a one-car accident where nobody was hurt?
they got big timed? anyone can refuse to talk to the police, tiger woods or joe schmoe…read the quote i quoted above. go to geoffshackelford.com for actual coverage of this story, not fucking TMZ.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:06 am
He didn’t have to talk to the pigs
November 30th, 2009 at 9:07 am
It would be a story if tiger beat the shit out of elin
/just saying
November 30th, 2009 at 9:07 am
It makes me think of The Wire and assholes like Rawls. Some furniture was probably broken and random people chewed out when Tiger bigtimed them.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:08 am
If this were any person, rich or otherwise, would the police be taking the time to do this? Of course not.
Take Tiger out and this is just a 5-minute clip on Cops.
But this IS Tiger. That’s what makes it different. The PD is going to cross their Ts and dot their Is before letting this one go.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:09 am
the story: Tiger lied to the cops.
If they get medical records and the hospital says, ‘his injuries are not consistent with that of an accident.’
then the cops will say he lied, and perhaps take action.
Jay V, you’re a lawyer, what’s the next step after that? They can’t ‘bust’ him for lying, can they?
November 30th, 2009 at 9:10 am
spencer – i agree. nobody was hurt, nobody else involved, etc.
but cops smell blood. it’s TIGER. maybe a badge high up in the ranks wants to make a name for himself. or, maybe the cops are sick of all the rich people in that area who dont give a F and would like to make one of them twist in the wind if possible.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:10 am
I’m proud of her
/Tawny Kitean
November 30th, 2009 at 9:13 am
This is spot on.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:13 am
For all anyone knows, he was on pain meds for his knee, tripped down the steps while sleep walking, got in his car, and rammed it into the fire hydrant and tree…
This is just as plausible as any other story. And none of it is relevant to the police since there was no injury to another person.
Do the police go after women who refuse to talk about the beatings that they received from their significant other? No.
The O-town police could end up looking very silly here. Left alone, the story goes away, at least from their perspective. Now, they want to be forefront in the middle, using tax payer dollars to chase after something that has no meaning to the safety of the public.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:14 am
TBL: how do you know Tiger lied? Like I say to all my clients, I wasn’t there, I don’t know what happened, I just know what the evidence is.
The med records, while arguably enough for prob cause, are hearsay, they would need the word of somebody who treated him to prove it.
I don’t know that Tiger ever told the cops at the scene his version. I’ve read he was semi-conscious, in a woozy state and probably wasn’t sure what happened. They’ve tried to get his stmt since then and have been denied. Without a witness, how can they say he lied?
Yes, possibly the med records, but that would seem to be a dead end road since they certainly couldn’t prove anything without a firsthand account.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:15 am
what blood do they smell?
a crime wasn’t committed, at least a crime that the victim would press charges for.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:16 am
if the charges amount to nothing more than a misdemenor this is a gigantic waste of time, odds are, this isn’t a felony and it’s just a publicity play. Tiger pays a fine, moves on. If it was a chance of a felony his lawyer would have advised him to talk immediately.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:16 am
I thought Swedes were docile..and then I saw that chef with the meat cleaver.
I can see her going all Bear Jew on his ass.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:16 am
For all anyone knows, he was on pain meds for his knee, tripped down the steps while sleep walking, got in his car, and rammed it into the fire hydrant and tree…
yeah…the fire hydrant and tree..that’s the ticket..yeah
/said in smarmy Jon Lovitz voice’d
Tiger made a BIG mnistake by blowing off the cops and making them look like fools. As I’ve said on here a million times, karma’s gonna get him
November 30th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Also, med records are generally protected under HIPPA federal privacy laws. It would be a pretty high burden for the state to get those. And even if they did, what are they gonna do then?
November 30th, 2009 at 9:18 am
It’s horseshit. Florida is a big enough mess, these assholes should devote resources to serving and protecting people from real danger.
This might be a blessing to Tiger though, perhaps people will see him as a victim.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:18 am
a) how is it a BIG mistake? what are they going to do? frame him for murder or some shit?
b) how do they look like fools? if he doesn’t have to talk to them, that’s his perogative.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Is his next step to just cave and talk to the police, or stand pat and hope that a court won’t grant the police a search warrant?
I love the “guilty until proven innocent” approach the media takes these days….
/sarcasm
November 30th, 2009 at 9:20 am
that’s his perogative.
he can dooooo what he wants to doooo.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:21 am
I’m sure there are plenty of folks that have rung up a DUI that would love to tell the cops to pound their pud after they got in a single car accident. Must be nice to be able to drive my shit into a fire hydrant and tree at 2:30 in the morning stumble home and tell the police f u i’m not talking.
Maybe he was drunk maybe he wasn’t but it’s reasonable to want to ask him a few questions.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:22 am
the FHP investigated the night of the accident and they did not see a reason to arrest him. after that, Woods is not obligated to speak to the FHP
November 30th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Two things about the TMZ story that make it hard to believe. 1) who in the world would Tiger have talked to right after that would then turn around and tell TMZ about it? Is Notah Begay that broke? And 2) the pictures of the Escalade don’t look like someone that just got distracted and wandered of the road. Based on the pics alone, it looks more like someone driving fast and lost control. Maybe a deer ran out in front of him.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Spencer is fired up this morning.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:25 am
hey, if they don’t implore you to do a breathalyzer etc, and let you go, how are they going to prove you had a DUI?
November 30th, 2009 at 9:26 am
what blood do they smell?
The same “blood” tiger smells on sunday afternoon.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:27 am
a) how is it a BIG mistake? what are they going to do? frame him for murder or some shit?
cops don’t like being blown off. Next time they come to your house, tell you’re tired and to come back. Then, when they come back, then tell to basically fuck off
b) how do they look like fools? if he doesn’t have to talk to them, that’s his perogative.
oh, I don’t know, having the entire process on the national media websites and TV all weekend, and him making them look like a bunch of Barney Fifes, walking to him door and getting it slammed into their face. What if you did that to them, then died, and your family sued the Orlando Police for not even investigating what might have caused his death? They’re gonna look stupid telling the Orlando police lawyers, “We don’t know, he didn’t want to talk to us, so we never asked”
November 30th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Police/Authori-tie in my experience appreciate communication. It helps them clear the books quicker and move on to the next moron for processing.
If you have done nothing wrong – explain it to them in person or however they want and it goes away. Publicly stonewalling the authorities and having the media wearing them out with requests for info has obviously pissed them off.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:30 am
this’ll piss you off, spencer:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/2009-11-29-woods-crash-probe_N.htm
And for the third day in a row, Woods and his wife canceled a meeting with Florida Highway Patrol officers who want to interview them. FHP Sgt. Kim Montes said the move was “highly unusual” but that the couple were not required to give a statement.
So why go after a warrant for medical records? What a dick move by the cops.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:31 am
i agree. that’s the one TMZ report i absolutely refuse to believe. unless it is Tiger’s lawyer who is talking to TMZ in an effort to get more favorable coverage
November 30th, 2009 at 9:31 am
jpq: I agree with Spencer. It’s the 5th amendment right not to incriminate yourself. Respecting that does not make cops look like fools. Anybody can tell the cops they don’t want to talk. The only question is do they have enough to seek a warrant anyway.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:32 am
i also agree with this. tiger’s got a bunch of moves he can make, one would be for his “people” to start getting the word out that Tiger didn’t need to talk, and now they are coming after him.
this story has changed at least half a dozen times in 4 days. lots of fun
November 30th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Everybody’s talking all this stuff about him, why don’t they just let him live?
November 30th, 2009 at 9:35 am
HE DOESN’T HAVE TO FUCKING TALK TO THEM!!! WHY DO YOU NOT COMPREHEND THIS?!?!?! he could tell them, in no uncertain terms, to beat off with sandpaper and they couldn’t do diddly poo. you can’t force people to talk, even with a warrant.
TBL…there really wasn’t anything new in that article that would piss me off. im more pissed at such an aggressive attack on this guy’s character when he’s been the signature athlete of the past decade in my favorite sport and has NEVER had anything like this happen. yet all of the sudden, he’s an asshole? a cheat? and yet nothing has been substantiated…
November 30th, 2009 at 9:35 am
November 30th, 2009 at 9:36 am
BTW, I think we all agree this isn’t worth the effort that’s going to take to reach the already-known destination: nothing is going to happen to Tiger or his wife in terms of criminal charges.
Still doesn’t mean we won’t get a lot of stories following this mess for a week or so before it comes to that conclusion.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:39 am
This might be a blessing to Tiger though, perhaps people will see him as a victim.
No chance… people who already don’t like tiger are going to add this to their list of reasons not to like him, and those who like him will sympathize with this situation. Look at this thread as evidence.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:40 am
TBL, 2 Questions:
Did you see “The Road” and will you post about it?
November 30th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Now Spencer finally sees the absolute stupididty of some of the shit on TBL. Congrats, I didn’t think it would take you this long.
/tyduffy still sucks
November 30th, 2009 at 9:44 am
sadly, did not see the road. but there is a movie post later. i ask that you not include any spoilers.
have already cleared off a night this week to see it, though. this limited release crap really put a crimp in my plans
November 30th, 2009 at 9:44 am
“ALL WE’RE TRYING TO DO IS INVESTIGATE A MOTHERFUCKING CAR ACCIDENT”
/chief mcdaniels to tiger woods
November 30th, 2009 at 9:44 am
i can’t wait to hear a faldo broadcast the first time he has to make the call after tiger drives one into the trees. you will hear some real joy in his voice if not an outright laugh.
spencer do you think augusta let patrons in who are dressed like fire hydrants?
November 30th, 2009 at 9:47 am
spencer do you think augusta let patrons in who are dressed like fire hydrants?
Definitely… fire hydrants > women
November 30th, 2009 at 9:48 am
How about a thread jack…
Jeter just got named Sportsman of the Year by SI for “captaining” the Yankees to the world series.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:51 am
HE DOESN’T HAVE TO FUCKING TALK TO THEM!!! WHY DO YOU NOT COMPREHEND THIS?!?!?! he could tell them, in no uncertain terms, to beat off with sandpaper and they couldn’t do diddly poo. you can’t force people to talk, even with a warrant.
spencer: I have my own comments to this that I’m not gonna get into, so I’m gonna stop going back and forth on it, but I’m telling you, that while “the law” says that you don’t have to talk, there are usually alternative consequences for not talking.
I’ve got some stuff right now w/ my kid that goes completely against your point. Trust me. I’m not an idiot, and my wife’s a lawyer. The cops can manipulate shit.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Ill…+1
November 30th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Jeter just got named Sportsman of the Year by SI for “captaining” the Yankees to the world series.
You mean railing Minka Kelly on top of a bed made of supermodels wasn’t enough?
November 30th, 2009 at 9:52 am
/so does Michigan
//Has Harbaugh interviewed for the UM football job yet?
November 30th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Are people really surprised this is still a story? When Tiger farted that story lasted at least three days…
November 30th, 2009 at 10:04 am
as long as they don’t litter.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:07 am
believe me, i know what the cops can manipulate from personal and secondary experience, but at the same time, this isn’t a big case. there aren’t victims with justice unfufilled. this is a relative non-story, any way you look at it, so why blow it WAYYY out of proportion?
November 30th, 2009 at 10:24 am
One of the best articles I’ve seen on this:
http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1943308,00.html
And btw, it’s easy to say why not talk if there’s nothing to hide. But, the cops are never on your side in a situation like this. Any tiny inconsistency can turn into a huge problem that can be avoided by just not talking. The cops can twist what happens before you talk just as easily as they can twist what happens after you talk. Of course, the caveat being, like I said earlier, whether they have enough evidence in the first place to pursue it further.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Between this “story” and the Steve Phillips debacle, this hasn’t been the brightest of times for the sports blogosphere.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:05 am
As a PR professional, I assure you the best way to get this story to die is to talk to the police. No, he is not required to, nor is anyone, but given that there are conflicting reports on what happened, sometimes by the same person, now we’re talking the possibility of obstructing justice, or hindering an investigation. Police are naturally suspicious and become more so when refused access to information. It’s what makes most of them good at what they do. Should the police succeed in gaining access to his medical records and it turns out he was driving under the influence, then he has an even bigger problem. Which is why he made a huge blunder in not talking to the police. If there is nothing to hide, no records are requested, the story quickly disappears and Tiger comes out the winner in the PR battle.
I really don’t care what happened. But I do care that he gets treated like you or I would. And the fact is, if you or I refused to cooperate with police, we would be viewed as hiding something. For Tiger, that is what will continue to drive this PR nightmare.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:17 am
DJB, as a criminal defense lawyer, I don’t necessarily disagree with what you’re saying. I wouldn’t be surprised if perhaps there is a little something Tiger wants to hide. I’m not convinced it’s the sensational TMZ side of it, but there probably is something. It may be he was taking painkillers and shouldn’t have been driving, it may be they had some sort of argument they don’t want to discuss, or it could be that he doesn’t remember how the wreck happened and doesn’t want to be forced to speculate. So, I’d agree that’s the best way to get it to die, but that might not be their objective. In any event though, using your Constitutional right not to talk will not result in an obstruction charge.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:27 am
YOU SAID IT WAS A GOOD MOVE YESTERDAY!!!!!
November 30th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Yup, said it was a good move yesterday.
And now that the police have changed their stance – their quotes that tiger didn’t have to talk – of course the opinion changes.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Next on “Real Housewives of Windemere”…
November 30th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
The hero worship is nauseating. Did anyone ever think that they are going after the wife and not Tiger. If it has a grain of truth that he got his dinky stinky with some other skank he is a douche bag for doing it. If the wife went after him physically no matter her size and strength compared to him she broke the law it is as simple as that. He does not have to talk to the police about the accident but what possibly precipitated it if the police require. It is all too fishy. Possibly none of our business but still fishy.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Question… does Cadillac Escilade like this publicity or dislike it?
November 30th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I can see the commercial now…
Escalade: We don’t have to pay Tiger Woods to drive our car