Florida Police Stun Marlins Pitcher Scott Olsen With Taser During Alleged Scuffle

AVENTURA, Fla. – Florida Marlins pitcher Scott Olsen was arrested early Saturday after refusing to pull over during a traffic stop and getting hit by a Taser stun gun during a fight with police officers, authorities said.

Olsen, 23, was booked into the Miami-Dade county jail on charges of driving under the influence, resisting an officer with violence and fleeing and eluding a police officer. He was released Saturday afternoon on $11,000 bond.

Police Lt. Michael Bentolila said Olsen was arrested in the Miami suburb of Aventura, where an officer clocked him driving 48 mph in a 35 mph zone and attempted to pull him over at about 3:40 a.m. The officer used the police car's lights, siren and public address system to get Olsen to pull over in his Infiniti sports utility vehicle, but he did not stop, Bentolila said.

Olsen, the winning pitcher in the Marlins' 10-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, continued to drive about one mile, running a stop sign before stopping at his Aventura home, Bentolila said.

Olsen then got out of his car and sat down on a plastic chair in front of his home, Bentolila said. When backup officers arrived and tried to arrest him, Olsen resisted by kicking at the officers, who then stunned him with the Taser, Bentolila said.

Olsen then failed a field sobriety test and refused an alcohol breath test, Bentolila said. A booking photo showed Olsen had two scrapes on his forehead over his right eye.

The pitcher was at the stadium before the team's game Saturday evening against the Reds but brushed off questions about the arrest.

"There's a legal process that has to be followed and we're going to take all the necessary precautions and steps and let the legal process pave the way. We're going to have to work on it, and that's all I really have to say," Olsen told The Associated Press.

The Marlins also released a statement saying they would "let the legal process run its course" before commenting further.

"As an organization, we take this very seriously and are extremely disappointed," the statement read.

The arrest was the latest in a string of troubles for the 6-foot-5 lefthander. Friday marked Olsen's return from a two-game suspension without pay came after a confrontation with teammate and fellow pitcher Sergio Mitre.

In June, Olsen was fined an unspecified amount in June for making an obscene gesture toward fans in Milwaukee.

Last season, Olsen received a black eye from his friend and former teammate, reliever Randy Messenger, in an off-the-field incident in St. Petersburg. He also got into dugout disputes with teammate Miguel Cabrera and then-manager Joe Girardi, who grabbed him by the jersey during a discussion.

Olsen earns $380,000 this season, his third with the Marlins.