Darryl Sydor was charged with two counts of second-degree drunken driving because of the aggravating factor of having a child in the car, with a maximum sentence of a year in jail and a fine up to $3,000 (U.S.).Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images
Minnesota Wild assistant coach Darryl Sydor was jailed on drunken-driving charges Friday after authorities said he became lost trying to take his 12-year-old son to a hockey tournament and ended up apologizing repeatedly to the weeping boy.
Police pulled Sydor over around 5:15 p.m. Thursday in suburban Fridley, Minn., after observing him driving erratically, according to the criminal complaint filed in Anoka County District Court. His blood-alcohol level later tested at 0.30, more than four times the legal limit, the complaint said.
Sydor, 43, was charged with two counts of second-degree drunken driving because of the aggravating factor of having a child in the car, with a maximum sentence of a year in jail and a fine up to $3,000 (U.S.).
"It gets the point of being disturbing. When you choose to drink and drive that's one thing. But when you choose to drink and drive with your child in the car at such a high level, where you know you're so obnoxiously impaired, that's almost disgusting to me," Fridley police Lieutenant Michael Monsrud said Friday.
Sydor remained in the county jail Friday. Online court records didn't list a lawyer who could comment on his behalf and indicated he did not have a lawyer when he made his first court appearance. Bail was set at $12,000, which Monsrud said is standard in such drunken-driving cases. He was also given the option of enrolling in an alcohol treatment program instead. His next court date was set for Oct. 12.
Sydor, from Edmonton, has been an assistant coach for the Wild for the past four seasons. He also played 18 seasons in the NHL.
"We are aware of the reports regarding Darryl Sydor. We are continuing to gather information and will have further comment at the appropriate time," the team said in a statement.
According to the complaint, Sydor told Officer Erik Johnson he was taking his son to a hockey tournament.