Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - A Syracuse University lacrosse player was back in city court on Wednesday afternoon, where he spoke publicly for the first time about his drinking problem.
Kevin Drew faces a laundry list of charges after an officer saw him crash into a parked car last year in the University Hill area.
His charges include driving while intoxicated, failure to comply with police orders, speeding, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Police say the car Drew was driving was registered to SU men’s lacrosse coach John Desko.
Drew’s attorney, Gary Sommer, requested an adjournment, which was granted by Judge Vanessa Bogan on Wednesday afternoon.
The adjournment will give the District Attorney’s Office more time to potentially reach some sort of resolution.
On Oct. 24, police say Drew was driving drunk when he struck the car and took off with an officer in pursuit. After a brief chase, Drew pulled over but refused to cooperate. Finally, an officer kicked him to the ground.
Drew told the judge he hadn’t drank in 100 days since the Oct. 24 incident. He also underwent a voluntary 28-day inpatient program. Sommer told the judge that Drew was different from other young adults he has represented.
"Obviously there's an issue he had with alcohol,” Sommer said. “I won't get into great detail about that. But he has probably dealt with it in the most aggressive and positive way that I've seen a student do in all my years."
The preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for March 20. In the meantime, he has been reinstated to Syracuse University and is back practicing with the lacrosse team. Desko says that Drew has been punished and is continuing to pay the consequences.
