Mets acting GM Zack Scott pleads not guilty to DWI
Acting general manager of the Mets, Zack Scott pleaded not guilty to driving while intoxicated Thursday morning after he was caught snoozing in his car on the side of a White Plains highway and failed a sobriety test.
A short time after his arraignment, the Mets announced they placed Scott on “administrative leave until further notice. Mets Team President Sandy Alderson will be assuming Zack’s responsibilities.”
Dressed in a blue blazer, blue checked shirt, tan slacks and a face mask, Scott, 44, made no comments to Judge Eric Press during his arraignment on the charges at White Plains City Court.
Scott presented a Massachusetts driver’s license to Press, who suspended the front office executive’s ability to drive in New York while the case is being investigated.
“I haven’t seen a Massachusetts license in a while, nice hologram. I am returning your license to you. I am not able to suspend a Massachusetts license but your driving privileges in New York are suspended,” Press told Scott during the hearing.
Early Tuesday morning, around 4 a.m., Scott was found sleeping in a 2018 Toyota on South Lexington Avenue, down the block from the White Plains police station, a few hours after he was last seen leaving charity at Mets owner Steve Cohen’s home.
Scott refused to give blood or submit to a breathalyzer test but when he was ordered to complete a field sobriety test, he failed and was taken into custody.
Police cited Scott for DWI and also for stopping on a highway, disobeying a traffic control device and failing to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of a change in address, police records show.
Westchester County prosecutors said Thursday that Scott was asleep behind the wheel while the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, and said he admitted he had been drinking earlier.
“We are thankful nobody was hurt or killed but we will continue to hold people accountable for this kind of reckless and potentially dangerous conduct,” Westchester County DA Miriam Rocah said in a statement.
Following the incident, the Mets said Scott would be barred from traveling with the team on their upcoming trip “while we learn more and determine next steps.”
“We were surprised and deeply disappointed to learn this morning about an alleged DUI involving Zack Scott,” the team said in a statement.
“We take this matter very seriously.”
Scott’s defense attorney Anthony DiFiore didn’t immediately comment on the arraignment.
