Cincinnati, Ohio -- The world-renowned conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is accused of drinking and driving.
It's a story 9News broke.
Paavo Järvi is facing charges of OVI after he was cited by police in Fairfax early Thursday morning. According to court records, police pulled him over on Columbia Parkway around 1:30 a.m. after he apparently fell asleep behind the wheel at a red light. The car was in gear, according to police paperwork.
In the Fairfax Police Department's cruiser cam video of the incident, classical music can be heard blaring as officers approach his 1998 BMW 330 at the intersection. Police say he sat through at least two light changes.
In the video, Järvi is heard telling an officer he was just "listening to music," to which the officers responds "You've been sleeping. You're not supposed to sleep in the middle of an intersection."
Järvi is seen taking several field sobriety tests but reportedly refused a breath test. Police say he smelled of alcohol.
After he was cited, police transported Järvi to an address in Indian Hill.
A representative from the CSO confirms they met with Järvi after he came to them first about the charges. The CSO says while the legal matter is sorted out, he will continue to conduct the orchestra, including performances this weekend. They will not comment any further at this time.
Järvi became the 12th Music Director of the symphony in September 2001 and is under contract until 2012 according to his
online biography.
The Grammy-award winning conductor appears to have been scheduled for a mandatory court appearance Thursday.
Police say he admitted to have "two wines" and "three waters" during a night of "socializing" in an interview.
