Lawyer: Tiger Woods Has No Plans to Speak to Police
Credit: AP Photo/Alan Diaz; TMZ.com
Tiger Woods and wife Elin Nordegren have no plans to speak to authorities about the controversial car crash Friday.
Police first tried to interview Woods, 33, on Friday, but his wife asked if they could return the next day because he was sleeping. Woods shooed them away Saturday and again on Sunday.
In an e-mail Sunday, Wood's IMG agent Mark Steinberg said: "We have been informed by the Florida Highway Patrol that further discussion with them is both voluntary and optional. Although Tiger realizes that there is a great deal of public curiosity, it has been conveyed to FHP that he simply has nothing more to add and wishes to protect the privacy of his family."
See today's top celeb new photos
Woods' new attorney Mark Nejame also issued a statement late Sunday: "We stand by Mr. Woods' previous released statement regarding his privacy. Otherwise, I have nothing further to add at this time."
But TMZ.com claims the Florida Highway Patrol is now focusing on obtaining a search warrant -- allowing them to seize medical records from the hospital that treated Woods -- in an attempt to determine if the wounds Woods sustained are consistent with a car accident or domestic violence.
TMZ has reported that Woods didn't suffer facial lacerations from a car accident, adding that injuries were inflicted by his wife, Elin, who was upset over reports that he had an affair with Rachel Uchitel.
Uchitel has denied an affair.
Woods' mother-in-law Barbro Holmberg told Usmagazine.com she is "praying for everyone and everything to be OK. Please let's just leave it at that."
See more controversial celeb relationships
Woods also spoke out Sunday, saying on his website: "This situation is my fault and it's obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again."
Remember these celeb scandals?
Woods is to host his Chevron World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif., which benefits his foundation. Woods' news conference had been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, although it was not clear if he would still play, or even attend.
"We do not know if Tiger is playing; we are anticipating a great week of competition," said Greg McLaughlin, the tournament director and president of his foundation.
Tell Us What You Think
39NateKansas is wrong in stating there is no local jurisdiction because the accident occurred in a private community. It depends where one lives. According to Florida law, local police do have jurisdiction in private communities which have elected to allow local law enforcement to enforce traffic laws.
I have to side with Tiger, it's none of our business what goes on at his house;-) Oh Suzie, you too can tell the cops to go away unless they show probable cause or a warrant:-) Most citizen's know their rights!
I disagree. If I hit something in the yard next door, probably I wouldn't get into this much trouble as Tiger did. Folks want to sell the story is the difference. He was leaving a fight I believe. That was the correct thing to do at that moment. He is just human, and doesn't deserve all this period.
I m very ammazed how Tiger could ignore the police Could he do it without having a problem with justice? I m amazed Is it because he is a superstar ? if it s that Tiger WOOD upset me, i taught he considere himself like a humain and a citizen like every american.
Leave him alone... he has its own life.... There are a lot of incident happening like this, why the media just ignore those. You just want to use these people. Even right now, while writing you this, it made traffic to the internet means you can make money from us.
hmm-leave it alone. He has the right to privacy. History is full of the yellow jounalism articles and the paparazzi ruining lives of famous people. Thomas Jefferson. Michael Jackson . Princess Dianna. Are we that bored? Please Journalism, Paparazzi should not have such a hold on us to veiwng videos and buying trash magazines such private information into the lives of these people whom are merely people with extrodinary talents
Why should he have to speak to the police? There is no evidence pointing towards a DUI so what's the big deal? Leave the guy alone already! I hope he & his wife stick to their guns & continue to keep their mouths shut.
How many people can just choose not to speak to the police?
I agree with Anne (1.19 PM) and Bebe (1.12 PM. Special treatment for Tiger Wood? Not fair at all!!!! something is fishy here!!!
The media is again demonstrating a lack of demeanor to sell print. If there is a family problem, it is their problem. No crime or hurt to anyone was committed. The restitution to property damage belongs within the gated community. TIGER STICK TO YOUR GUNS,, YOU DONT HAVE TO SAY A WORD TO THE POLICE
Honestly, Tiger not talking just adds serious suspicion to the situation. Yeah, if he can get away without talking legally, then fine but he just adds suspicion to this situation. Honestly, I personally didn't think anything of it when I first heard, just thought a little accident, no biggie. But with all this sending the police away and refusing to talk about a little fender bender has made my interest in it sky rocket, just b/c I want to know what the big fuss is! Talking about privacy, privacy, but this really didn't seem to be a privacy issue. Usually celebs say something to the effect of "I'm fine, a cat ran in the road" and then its basically over, but this just makes it seem like there is soooo much more to hide.
WHY can he get away with not speaking to the police? If it were you or I, we'd ge hauled off to the police station. Why is it kid glove treatment if you're a celebrity? Not fair. He shows a lack of respect for the law!
If someone had been on that sidewalk and had been seriously injured or killed in this accident, would you all then think the police has the right to investigate it? Which by the way, is part of their job!
Ok....here's a crazy thought, if someone were walking down that sidewalk and had been struck by Woods before he hit the tree and they were seriously injured or killed, would the police have a right to investigate then? This question is for all of you who don't think the police have a right to investigate the accident. Duh....that's their job. And you know there will be insurance issues that will require a police report, such as replacing the fire hydrant, possibly replacing the tree if it was damaged enough to cause it to die, repairing the vehicle, replacing the golf clubs, etc.....Think people, just because he is famous doesn't make him better than you or I when it comes to the law.
He has no legal duty to talk to the police in this situation. It did not happen on a public street like most people live on that is paid for by tax payer dollars. This happened on private property in a gated community. There is no local jurisdiction here at all. He has every right to keep this private. Now if this would have happend after he left the gated community different story although he could plead the 5th, he still would be able to be obtained by police for questioning and testing for possible dui etc. or even a traffic violation could be issued, but on private land not so. It would be like drag racing in a walmart parking lot. You actually could not get a speeding ticket it is private property, but Walmart could call the coppas and have you aressted for public endagerment and tresspassing. In regards to Tiger's delima the community associaton would have to press charges and that is not going to happen. So people just leave the guy alone. He is not superman and may have some prolems at home but he needs to deal with them not us.......
How can he refuse to speak to the police? that seems odd to me. When you are in ANY traffic accident (and this one ivolved him hitting public property) you have to make a report or you are guilty of hit and run, right? I guess Florida is different. Any other Joe Blow would have been tested for intoxication in a wierd incident like this, no?
Whatever happened, happened. When something happens to someone who is in the public eye as much as Mr. Woods it is natural to be curious. Before long all of this will die down and everyone will forget about it except for those who for some reason want to see the Woods family go down. Then another famous human being will do something and the buzz will start on them.
I hope he never needs the police. They might not be real quick to respond, if he does.
This is a physical attack of a WHITE TIGRESS on a BLACK sports personality and she should be CHARGED with assault.No matter the philadering of Tiger, she has no right to clobber him on the head with a golf club.She is VERY DANGEROUS
Hmm...when was the last time medialoid (defined as mainstream media infected by tabloid journalism) decided to take down a beloved iconic figure? Michael Jackson. Death by media terrorism. Tiger, don't back down. Don't let medialoid bully you. This is a private matter and no one's business for yours!