Michigan’s starting running back, Fitzgerald Toussaint, was arrested for operating a vehicle while impaired on Saturday night, according to the Saline Patch.
“Saline Police arrested Toussaint at approximately 11:45 p.m. while working in downtown Ann Arbor on drunk driving detail,” Detective Don Lupi said.
Police made the stop for a traffic violation, Lupi said. A breathalyzer test showed a blood alcohol content above the legal limit of .08, Lupi said. The arrest took place without incident, he said.
Toussaint was arrested and lodged at the Saline Police Department until sober, according to Lupi. Lupi said the police are forwarding the case to the Washtenaw County prosecutor’s office. Arraignment details are not yet available.
Head coach, Brady Hoke, has suspended Toussaint indefinitely, which likely means he won’t be playing in Michigan’s first game of the season against Alabama.
Hoke stated, “Fitz made a poor decision and has been suspended indefinitely because of that action. There are expectations that come with being a football student-athlete at the University of Michigan and those responsibilities were not met in this instance. We will use this as an opportunity to educate Fitz and make sure he understands the high standards that we have established within our program.”
Toussaint, the teams No. 1 running back and second leading rusher behind Denard Robinson, will be tough to replace. Backups, Thomas Rawls and Vincent Smith, will now see additional carries next season. However, it’s unlikely that those two can match the 1,041 yards and eight touchdowns production from Toussant last season.
