Hope Solo Arrested on Child Abuse and DWI Charges

Former US women’s national team goalkeeper Hope Solo has been arrested on DWI and child abuse charges after being discovered passed out behind the wheel of her vehicle with her two-year-old twins inside.

Solo was arrested on Thursday in the parking lot of a shopping center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and charged with driving while impaired, misdemeanor child abuse, and resisting a public officer.

The retired 40-year-old has already been released from jail but must return to court on June 28.

A passerby noticed her passed out behind the steering wheel of her vehicle for over an hour with the vehicle’s engine left running and her two children – Vittorio Genghis and Lozen Orianna Judith Stevens – sitting in the back.

A responding officer stated he could smell alcohol and Solo refused to take a field sobriety test, which meant her blood had to be drawn instead.

Rich Nichols, who is Solo’s attorney, released a statement on Friday but declined the chance to speak on the specific charges.

“On the advice of counsel, Hope can’t speak about this situation, but she wants everyone to know that her kids are her life, that she was released immediately and is now at home with her family, that the story is more sympathetic than the initial charges suggest, and that she looks forward to her opportunity to defend these charges,” said Nichols.