http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_456030.html
Charge 'minor' on Holmes
As a talented wide receiver, Santonio Holmes knows the importance of timing.
But the Steelers' first-round draft pick found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time early Saturday morning in Miami Beach, Fla., during Urban Beach Week, a 17-block annual extravaganza celebrating hip-hop music.
Holmes was one of 563 event-goers arrested over the Memorial Day weekend. He was arrested and charged with second-degree misdemeanor disorderly conduct for obstructing traffic while walking in the street and failing to obey the command of a police officer.
The maximum penalty for a second-degree misdemeanor is 60 days in jail, though Miami Beach police spokesman Bobby Hernandez said Holmes isn't likely to receive such a harsh punishment.
"I've never heard of that, a first-time offender getting 60 days," Hernandez said of Holmes, who had a disorderly conduct charge dismissed his freshman year at Ohio State.
A fine or probation, at most, is more realistic, Hernandez said, adding that on many other weekends Holmes might not have been arrested. Police are extra vigilant at the Urban Beach event, the largest gathering of the year at Miami Beach.
"This is a minor charge; this is nothing," Hernandez said. "It means more to the celebrity, the sports star, the actor, than to the average Joe. To the average Joe, this is nothing. The ramifications aren't that great. But for a celebrity, there are more ramifications (due to publicity). Different things can happen negatively to you."
The Steelers organization did not offer a statement Tuesday regarding Holmes' arrest.
Hernandez said 600 police officers, a portion of them in plainclothes, were deployed at the Urban Beach event. Since 2001, when unruly behavior highlighted the Memorial Day event, Miami Beach police began cracking down.
"It's like our Mardi Gras," Hernandez said.
Because the event draws so many people, police officers are instructed to quickly arrest anyone causing problems.
"On this weekend, there is a low tolerance for shenanigans," said Hernandez, who pointed out that most of those arrested were charged with disorderly conduct and intoxication. "If you pick a weekend to be disorderly, this wasn't the weekend. We can't afford it."
Holmes, whom the Steelers traded up for in the first round of April's draft, was arrested and taken to jail at 3:30 a.m. Saturday. He was released from jail after signing a promissory note to appear in court to be arraigned.
A date for the arraignment has not been set, and it could take several weeks, according to Ed Griffith of the state attorney's office in Florida. Holmes would not have to physically appear at the arraignment -- an attorney could represent him -- if he pleads not guilty. He would have to be present if the case went to trial.
Oftentimes, a plea bargain can be reached, and the defendant could be ordered to pay a fine. If that were to occur, Holmes could have the issue handled by an attorney. It would guarantee that he would not miss any portion of Steelers training camp, which opens July 28 in Latrobe.
Holmes told the Tribune-Review on Saturday that he was walking in the street to avoid a gathering of people, and, that he was arrested after questioning why the police officer was using a strong tone with him to get off the street.
"I wasn't trying to cause a problem," Holmes told the Trib. "I'm upset about this."
Holmes, 22, who left Ohio State after his junior year, was one of three professional athletes to be arrested during the Urban Beach event in Miami Beach this past weekend. Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas and teammate Awvee Storey were the others.
Storey, similar to Holmes, according to reports, was blocking traffic in the middle of a busy street when an officer told him to get back to the sidewalk Saturday night. Storey did not obey the command and was arrested. According to reports, Arenas was told to get back into his vehicle, but he refused, saying he wanted to stand next to his teammate. Arenas was then taken into custody and charged with resisting arrest without violence.
The difference between Holmes and Arenas, according to Hernandez, is that Holmes was "humble" and "apologetic" after being arrested, while Arenas, according to reports, said, "You can't arrest me. I'm a basketball player for the Washington Wizards, and I'm not going to leave my teammate."
The Wizards players were taken to jail for processing. Holmes signed the promissory note and was released.
Holmes arrested for disordely conduct
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