Former Louisville Star Russ Smith Arrested for DUI

One of Louisville’s brightest stars had a regrettable Saturday night. Russ Smith was arrested for multiple moving violations, including driving under the influence, in Louisville’s Highlands neighborhood.

Smith was initially pulled over after making an illegal U-turn on Baxter Avenue. According to an arrest report obtained by WDRB, detectives said they noticed a car with plates that expired in 2022. Just before the traffic stop, officers said the 2018 Maserati turned across several lanes and went onto a crosswalk.

Louisville Metro Police officers smelled alcohol on his breath. Smith admitted he had two Bourbons before getting behind the wheel. This is where the story takes another U-turn.

The legal limit for Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is .08. Russ Smith blew a .073. Even though he technically had the green light, they arrested him for driving under the influence after failing a walk and turn test.

BUT WAIT — THERE’S ONE MORE TWIST!

If you thought this was just a regular DUI arrest story, think again. According to Jason Riley of WDRB, the arresting officer in this case is Det. Kyle Willis. It’s the same Det. Kyle Willis who drove Scottie Scheffler to jail. He was reprimanded for leaking video of the incident at last year’s PGA Championship.

As for the BAC level, Riley noted that officers have the discretion to arrest anyone over a BAC of .05. That is because they cannot accurately determine if it’s rising or falling. Officers do not know when the individual had their last drink. The More You Know.

Back to the Rest of the Russ Smith Story

In addition to the DUI, Smith was also charged with reckless driving and unregistered plates. That DUI charge will probably include more serious consequences than a typical first-time offender. He’s the founder of Mr. and Mrs. Bourbon. Alcohol-related arrests are considered taboo in the liquor and beer industry, and that’s a serious understatement.

His bourbon company was a sponsor for the TBT. His Cardinals were losers to the Kentucky alumni team in a record-breaking event at Freedom Hall. Russ Smith did a lot of losing to the Cats during his time at UofL, but he’s probably one of the five most beloved players in that program’s history, even if the 2013 National Title was vacated.

Download the KSR/On3 App for all things KSR. You can get breaking news alerts, listen to podcasts, find schedules, and get access to KSBoard, our message board.