Report: Duke men's basketball's Michael Savarino, Paolo Banchero face DWI-related charges

Michael Savarino was arrested at 1:10 a.m. Sunday morning for DWI.
Michael Savarino was arrested at 1:10 a.m. Sunday morning for DWI.

Duke men's basketball's Michael Savarino and Paolo Banchero face charges following an arrest for driving while impaired early Sunday in Orange County, The News & Observer's Steve Wiseman first reported.

Savarino was arrested by N.C. Highway Patrol at 1:10 am for driving while impaired and is charged with DWI, driving after drinking alcohol under the age of 21 and a stop sign violation. Banchero was charged with aiding and abetting DWI before being released at the site of the traffic stop. North Carolina state law says that aiding and abetting a DWI is when someone "knowingly advises, instigates, encourages, or aids another person to drive while impaired and his actions cause or contribute to the commission of the crime." The News & Observer obtained a copy of the arrest report and reported that Savarino was driving a 2017 Jeep SUV that is registered to Banchero with Banchero as a passenger in the backseat of the vehicle.

N.C. Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Christopher Knox said that he stopped Savarino for a stop sign violation at the intersection of Bushy Cook Road and West Ten Road outside Hillsborough and saw signs of impairment, The News & Observer reported. Savarino's blood alcohol content was 0.08.

Per The News & Observer, the officer reported that Savarino had a "strong odor of alcohol" and "red glassy eyes." Savarino admitted to consuming alcohol, and the officer gave him a field sobriety test, in which Savarino was given a "poor" report. 

He was taken into custody and given a breathalyzer test at 2:38 a.m., which is when he tested at a 0.08 blood alcohol content. 

The legal limit for blood alcohol content in the state of North Carolina is 0.08, meaning anyone regardless of age can be arrested for a DWI with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or greater.

The arrest report states that Savarino was released to student manager Grayson Sherr at 3:23 a.m., per The News & Observer. 

According to the report, Savarino, head coach Mike Krzyzewski's grandson, has a court date Dec. 9, while Banchero's date is Dec. 8.

The News & Observer has released the police documents in a separate article here.

“We are reviewing a legal matter involving two members of the men’s basketball team," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said through a team spokesperson after The Chronicle asked for comment. "Any further actions as a result of this situation will ultimately be determined by the Vice President/Director of Athletics and University officials.”

In the state of North Carolina, an underage individual can be charged with a DWI if they drive a vehicle while actively consuming alcohol or having any amount of alcohol or controlled substance in their body. The state has a zero-tolerance alcohol law, meaning that people under 21 can be charged with a DWI for violating either of the two aforementioned clauses. 

Both players' status for Tuesday's game against Gardner-Webb is uncertain.

This is a developing story and will be updated.


Micah Hurewitz

Micah Hurewitz is a Trinity senior and was previously a sports managing editor of The Chronicle's 118th volume.


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