Joey Porter Introduces Himself to Arizona Fans By Having Run-In With California Cop

The fact that Joey Porter’s first notable action as an Arizona Cardinal was getting arrested will probably not please any Cardinals fans. But the way he got popped is even worse.

⇥⇥The incident began at about 1:20 a.m. when officers made an enforcement stop in the Taco Bell parking lot at Hageman Road and Calloway Drive in Bakersfield, a CHP news release said. It said Porter, a friend of the subject who was stopped, also stopped behind the CHP patrol vehicle.⇥⇥⇥⇥While an officer contacted the person originally stopped, another officer contacted Porter and smelled alcohol, the release said. It said the officer asked for Porter’s license, but Porter wouldn’t give it to him. The officer ordered Porter to get out of the car, the CHP said.⇥⇥

⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥Porter began to roll up the driver’s-side window, the release said, and the officer reached into the vehicle and lifted the unlock button. It said Porter slapped his hand on top of the officer’s hand to keep the door lock button down and the officer grabbed Porter’s arm and pushed it back into the inside of the vehicle.⇥⇥

⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥Porter opened the vehicle door and got out of it “in a confrontational manner,” the release said. The officer directed Porter to the ground, the release said, but Porter wouldn’t. But Porter did comply with orders to place his hands behind his head.⇥⇥

Want to question Porter’s judgment? There are about twenty different queries worth making. Why, if you are famous enough for an arrest to make headlines, be ornery with police officers for any reason? Why, if you are worth millions of dollars, are you the one who drives after drinking? Why, if you are in California, land of authentic Mexican food, are you going to Taco Bell?

Luckily for Porter, the details of the incident are more head-scratching than anything, and he’s only charged with misdemeanors. This is the sort of thing that looks bad in a headline, gets a few snarky columns written, and ultimately results in a one-game suspension or censure from Roger Goodell.

The Cardinals signed Porter to a $24.5 million deal with the Cardinals less than two weeks ago. This weekend, at least one person in that front office is probably dealing with a severe case of buyer’s remorse.

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