COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Marcell Ozuna took to the field in Sunday’s Braves game against the Houston Astros just two days after his DUI arrest.
Some fans booed Ozuna as he walked up to his first at-bat and struck out. The boos would only get louder for Ozuna as he headed back to the dugout and the rest of the game.
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The Braves would end up dropping the series finale against the Astros. Channel 2 Action News was the only television crew inside the Braves clubhouse to interview Ozuna after the game.
Channel 2′s Alison Mastrangelo asked Ozuna about being booed by the home fans at Truist Park.
“It’s gotta motivate you. Don’t listen to what they say and keep my head up and do the best,” Ozuna said.
I spoke to #Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna today post game after going 0-2 and batting .213 . #ForTheA #MLB #AtlantaBraves pic.twitter.com/BpSbQxfOIs
— Alison Mastrangelo (@AlisonWSB) August 21, 2022
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Braves fan Luke Hulsey was among those expressing disapproval of Ozuna.
“I was booing a little bit, too. I really put my heart and trust into him. And for him to go out and act unprofessional, we are upset with it.”
Braves fan Julie Francis brought her two young sons to the game. She says the booing was a distraction from the game her family loves.
“It definitely puts a damper on the game itself than the positivity or the negativity that inflicts so. I’m just out here to watch my Braves do well.”
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On Friday, Norcross police arrested Ozuna on charges of driving under the influence and failure to maintain lane on Beaver Ruin Road.
The officer wrote the road has a speed limit of 35 mph and he estimated Ozuna’s car was traveling “well over this.” The officer wrote he had to “reach speeds of approximately 90 MPH to catch up to the vehicle.”
Channel 2′s Matt Johnson obtained body camera footage of Ozuna’s arrest and walked viewers through it on Channel 2 Action News at 4 p.m.
Once Ozuna was pulled over, the officer said “the driver immediately stated, ‘Sorry, sorry, I’m Ozuna from the Braves.’”
“I detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage from within the vehicle in addition to Mr. Ozuna exhibiting red/watery eyes. I informed Mr. Ozuna of the reason for the traffic stop to which he again apologized to me and produced an insurance card. I asked Mr. Ozuna what he was doing in Norcross, and he replied with ‘the party.’ I later found out Mr. Ozuna was on his way to a nearby after-hours night club,” the responding officer said in the report.
Channel 2 Action News received the following statement from the Atlanta Braves:
“The Atlanta Braves are aware of Marcell Ozuna’s arrest this morning and are still gathering all the facts pertaining to the incident. Our organization takes these matters very seriously and (we) are obviously disappointed by the situation. As this is a legal matter, we will have no further comment until the process is complete.”
This is the second arrest for Ozuna in the past two years. In May 2021, police arrested Ozuna on charges of aggravated assault and battery after officers said they witnesses him attacking his estranged wife.
He was originally arrested on one felony charge of aggravated assault by strangulation, but prosecutors dropped the felony charge in July. Ozuna still faced misdemeanor charges of family violence, battery and simple assault.
In September, Ozuna agreed to complete a state’s pre-trial diversion program, which allows offenders to complete requirements prior to a court date in exchange for their case being completely dismissed.
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