"I clearly had one drink too many and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said. It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse," the Oscar-winning actress said in a statement released late Sunday. "I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. The words I used that night definitely do not reflect who I am. I have nothing but respect for the police and I'm very sorry for my behavior."
Lawyers for the 37-year-old were due in court Monday but the hearing was rescheduled for May 22. Witherspoon was not present. She was in New York Sunday for the premiere of her new film, "Mud." She posed for cameras on the red carpet but did not stop to talk to reporters.
State troopers pulled over Witherspoon and her husband, Hollywood agent James Toth, early Friday morning on suspicion of DUI. Toth, 42, also had a hearing Monday, but that was reset for May 23.
According to a report by Trooper First Class J. Pyland, Witherspoon disobeyed orders to remain seated in the car during Toth's sobriety test. "Do you know my name?" Witherspoon is quoted as asking the trooper. She's also said: "You're about to find out who I am" and "You're about to be on national news," according to the report.
The trooper had pulled the couple over after noticing the car driven by Toth wasn't staying in its lane. He reported that Toth had droopy eyelids, watery, bloodshot eyes, and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol.
Toth, 42, told the trooper he'd had a drink, which Witherspoon said was consumed at a restaurant two hours before the traffic stop, the trooper wrote.
Before the field sobriety test began, Witherspoon got out of the car, but then got back in when she was ordered to, the report said. After the "Walk the Line" star got out a second time, the trooper said he warned her that she would be arrested if she left the car again.
As the test continued, "Mrs. Witherspoon began to hang out the window and say that she did not believe that I was a real police officer. I told Mrs. Witherspoon to sit on her butt and be quiet," Pyland wrote.
Toth was then placed under arrest. He was charged with driving under the influence and failure to maintain the lane.
At that point, the report says, Witherspoon got out and asked the trooper what was going on. After being told to return to the car, she "stated that she was a 'US Citizen' and that she was allowed to 'stand on American ground,'" the report states.
The trooper then began to arrest Witherspoon. The report says Witherspoon was resistant at first but was calmed down by her husband.
Toth and Witherspoon were then taken to jail and later released on bond.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
