Zack Scott
On Jan. 6, White Plains City Court Judge Eric Press found former Mets General Manager Zach Scott not guilty of DWI, stemming from an incident on Aug. 31, 2021, in which he was found asleep in his car at an intersection in White Plains at 417 am.
Scott was returning home from an event at the Connecticut mansion of Mets owner Steve Cohen. Scott refused to take a chemical test but the bodycam evidence presented at trial showed Scott to be lucid and not intoxicated.
“I am thankful for today’s verdict,” said Scott.”Nonetheless, I regret choices I made on August 31, resulting in circumstances that led to my arrest,” Zack said. “Professionally, I’m grateful to [team president] Sandy Alderson for the opportunity to lead baseball operations for the Mets and wish my former teammates nothing but the best going forward.”
Scott’s attorney, Bruce Bendish argued at the trial that his client had not failed a sobriety test, given by White Plains police officers Frank Confalone and sergeant John Guastella, who both testified that they watched Scott’s vehicle sit at a traffic light through two cycles (red, green, red, green) without moving.
The officers smelled alcohol on Scott’s breath, which his attorney said that he admitted to drinking beers hours before.
Judge Press, after watching the bodycam evidence, said that it did not show a person who was intoxicated, and added that he thought Scott “was basically parked in a lane of traffic” when the police approached his vehicle.
Bendish argued at trial that Scott was not asleep but was distracted by a cell phone in his lap. And while the bodycam footage could not show whether Scott’s eyes were closed of whether he was looking down at his phone, Scott was not charged with distracted driving.
Bendish told YonkersTimes.com that Scott had refused to take a chemical test, “on the advice of his attorney,” who he had contacted that late evening-early morning.”
Bendish explained that defendants do not have to take a chemical test when pulled over for DUI, but Judge Press said that this fact was a “major thing” with a negative connotation about it. But Scott’s refusal to take a chemical test could impact his driver’s licence with NYSDMV.
“They have to prove their case beyond a reasonable dolubt and in this case there was much doubt,” said Bendish. “While we understand and appreciate the reasons why the police officers suspected that Mr. Scott was driving while intoxicated, and respect their decision to place him under arrest, the simple fact was that Mr. Scott was not intoxicated or impaired by alcohol that evening. Rather, the evidence showed conclusively that Mr. Scott’s ability to operate a car was in no way impaired by alcohol.”
Scott received two $100 fines for traffic violations. He was fired as Mets GM by owner Steve Cohen after his arrest, with Cohen saying the Mets have a zero tolerance for this type of behavior. A bus filled with Mets players departed the Cohen home after the party, giving the players a ride back to CitiField.
