‘Anchorman’ actor David Koechner arrested for DUI after failed field sobriety test in Ohio

Actor David Koechner, perhaps best known for his role as Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) sidekick Champ Kind in the Anchorman films, was arrested on DUI charges after failing a field sobriety test in Ohio in early June.

Koechner, 59, was pulled over June 4 after Ohio state troopers after they saw what they called ‘lane violations’ while he was driving. It is the actor’s second DUI in six months.

The actor, also known for his roles on The Office and The Goldbergs, allegedly refused to take a breathalyzer test.  

On bodycam footage released to the public, one of the troopers is heard describing Koechner’s appearance. 

‘Alcohol… glossy eyes. I could smell the alcohol when I walked up to the car,’ one of the officers could be heard saying.

Actor David Koechner, perhaps best known for his role as Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) sidekick Champ Kind in the Anchorman films, was arrested on DUI charges after failing a field sobriety test in Ohio in early June

Koechner, 59, was pulled over June 4 after Ohio state troopers after they saw what they called ‘lane violations’ while he was driving

It is the actor’s second DUI in six months after he was arrested in California on New Year’s Eve

The actor, also known for his roles on The Office and The Goldbergs, allegedly refused to take a breathalyzer test

An officer already at the scene said that the California resident Koechner was appearing at a West Virginia comic-con. 

‘Oh God, You can smell it from here,’ said the officer as he arrived at Koechner’s car. 

Koechner said that he was driving to West Virginia from the airport in Cincinnati and recalled specific stops he’d made before being pulled over. 

When asked how much he’d had to drink, he responded succinctly: ‘One.’ 

The officer responded asking what he meant by one and Koechner said ‘one beer.’

On bodycam footage released to the public, one of the troopers is heard describing Koechner’s appearance

‘Alcohol… glossy eyes. I could smell the alcohol when I walked up to the car,’ one of the officers could be heard saying

An officer already at the scene said that the California resident Koechner was appearing at a West Virginia comic-con

He was then asked to get out of the vehicle and asked a series of question. He answered ‘no’ to if he wore contact lenses, was on any medications, previously suffered head injuries. 

His lone ‘yes’ answer was when he was asked if he was in ‘relatively’ good health. 

The trooper than began giving Koechner his field sobriety test using the tip of a pen. 

He was then told to walk back to the police car, where he was placed ‘under arrest for operating a vehicle while impaired.’ 

A DUI is technically known as OVI (Operating a Vehicle Impaired) in Ohio. If convicted, he faces anywhere from three days to six months in prison, a fine of $1,000 and 500 hours of community service, in addition to a drivers’ intervention program.

He has a hearing scheduled July 8, according to Fox News.

Koechner said that he was driving to West Virginia from the airport in Cincinnati and recalled specific stops he’d made before being pulled over

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He was asked to get out of the vehicle and asked a series of question. He answered ‘no’ to if he wore contact lenses, was on any medications, previously suffered head injuries

Six months ago, Koechner was arrested at around 3pm on New Year’s Eve in Simi Valley, California, according to TMZ after police were called to deal with an ‘erratic driver’.

So far, Koechner has not addressed the arrest publicly. It appears to be the actor’s first DUI in the state of California.

Koechner joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1995, along with a few of his Second City comedians Nancy Walls and Adam McKay.

While he only lasted one season on SNL, he would team up with McKay and his SNL castmate Will Ferrell in the 2004 hit comedy Anchorman as sports reporter Champ Kind, which boosted his career further.

Koechner has had a recurring role on ABC’s The Goldbergs as Bill Lewis since 2015. 

Six months ago, Koechner was arrested at around 3pm on New Year’s Eve in Simi Valley, California , according to TMZ after police were called to deal with an ‘erratic driver’

So far, Koechner has not addressed the arrest publicly. It appears to be the actor’s first DUI in the state of California

He split from his wife of more than 20 years, Leigh Koechner, in 2020. 

No cause for divorce was revealed, but the couple have five children together, Charlie, Sargent, Audrey, Margot and Eve.