Piazza Gets Off Easy, Reveals Cinematic Past



The Associated Press reported today that Mets catcher Mike Piazza was the beneficiary of some preferential treatment on the part of a star-struck Port St. Lucie police officer.

A rookie officer stopped New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza for driving 52 mph in a 30 mph residential zone but decided not to issue a ticket, police said Thursday.

Officers Adrian Caudell, a trainee, and Jim Becker stopped Piazza's black BMW on Tuesday and recognized the 10-time All-Star, said Officer Kacey Donnell, a spokesman for Port St. Lucie police.

Caudell decided to issue a written warning rather than a speeding ticket, Donnell said. Court officials said the fine would have been $178.

"It was the officers' discretion," Donnell said. "There were no houses on the stretch of road and there were no other cars."

"In his limited experience as a police officer, he decided to give him a written warning."

Piazza and the Mets are in Port St. Lucie for spring training. Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Thursday that the team had no comment.

Caudell had issued three written warnings, which don't include a fine, and four citations, which do require a fine, on Tuesday in addition to Piazza's warning, Donnell said.

In the neighborhood where Piazza was stopped, some residents said speeding has been a big problem.

"If the law says you're over a certain speed limit you're supposed to get a ticket regardless of who it is, Piazza or the governor," resident Angel Quinones, 48, told the Port St. Lucie News.

In less ethically-challenged news, Piazza, aka Mike Arnold, is interviewed in the latest edition of New York Sports Express. Mike's cameo in "Teen Wolf", the finest of all basketball-playing werewolf films, is discussed at length.


Posted: Thu - April 1, 2004 at 06:50 PM      

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