The story surrounding former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo‘s arrest has taken another turn.
Days after Romo was arrested on suspicion of operating while intoxicated in Wisconsin, authorities have released body camera footage from the traffic stop. The newly public video offers the clearest look yet at Romo’s interaction with law enforcement before he was taken into custody.
In the footage, Romo tells the responding officer that he was on his way to see his grandparents. At one point, he also questions why the officer believes he is intoxicated. “Because I’m coming from a golf course, you think I’m drunk?” Romo asks in the video. The footage also shows Romo explaining that he has undergone two back surgeries and says those procedures made some of the field sobriety tests difficult for him to perform.
According to police, officers observed that Romo had red, glassy eyes and detected the odor of an intoxicating alcoholic beverage. Those observations, along with the results of the roadside investigation, led to his arrest on suspicion of operating while intoxicated, which is commonly known as OWI in Wisconsin.
However, the release of the bodycam footage does not change the legal status of the case. Romo is still scheduled for a court appearance on September 21, when the matter will continue through the legal process. Neither Romo nor his representatives have publicly commented since the footage was released.
How former Cowboy star Tony Romo’s case unfolded
The incident began on the evening of July 23 when the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office pulled Romo over around 6 p.m. on Interstate 43, just south of the Marquette Interchange.
According to the arrest report, Romo struggled during standard field sobriety tests. He was taken into custody, booked, and later released the same night. Authorities have not publicly released any blood alcohol or breath test results.
Officials also noted that Romo remained cooperative throughout the encounter. In Wisconsin, impaired driving offenses are referred to as OWI, which stands for operating while intoxicated. While many states use DUI or DWI, the offense is similar. Local reports have indicated this is believed to be Romo’s first OWI-related offense.
Meanwhile, CBS has not issued a public statement on the case, where Romo has served as the network’s lead NFL analyst since 2017.
Romo remains one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Cowboys history. He spent his entire NFL career in Dallas after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He retired as the franchise’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns with 248 and held the passing yards record until Dak Prescott surpassed it.