Ward worried word of arrest would get out

DECATUR, Ga., March 14 (UPI) -- Former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward told a police officer he was worried his arrest on a DUI charge would become public, a police car's video shows.

The footage, taken from a dashboard camera and obtained by TMZ, showed Ward handcuffed in the backseat of the car after his July 9 arrest in DeKalb County on a charge of driving under the influence, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Ward leaned forward and asked a police officer through the see-through, protective partition, "Is this going to be all in the newspaper?"

"Only if you tell somebody," the officer responded.

"No, I already know ESPN. They always be looking for [expletive] like that," Ward told the officer.

Ward pleaded with the officer not to let word of his arrest get out.

"Please, sir, I already know how y'all gonna put it out like that. Don't put it out like that."

The Journal-Constitution said Ward, a wide receiver, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

A DeKalb officer said the car Ward was driving was stopped after hitting a curb. Authorities said Ward failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a Breathalyzer test.

Ward pleaded to reckless driving and the DUI charge was dropped in February. He was given 12 months of probation, fined $2,000 and ordered to complete 80 hours of community service and attend an alcohol evaluation and a risk-reduction program.

Ward was released by the Steelers March 2 and is currently a free agent.