CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- Attorneys for Denver Broncos
linebacker Bill Romanowski, charged with illegally obtaining
prescription diet pills, suggested Thursday investigators in the
case were overzealous and intimidating.
Douglas County Sheriff's Department Detective Jeff Grimwood
acknowledged that he slapped high-fives with another investigator
after they went to Romanowski's doctor about the case and his wife
coincidentally called.
Romanowski's wife Julie coincidentally called a doctor to ask
about prescriptions for the drug while they were interviewing the
doctor.
Grimwood, the lead investigator in the Romanowski case, told
jurors in Romanowski's trial that the gesture was simply an
outburst of emotion.
"I was just shocked and overwhelmed with the information we
obtained," Grimwood said under questioning by defense attorney
Jeff Springer.
The gesture came after Grimwood and another investigator emerged
from the office of Dr. Randall Snook, Romanowski's physician at the
time. Julie Romanowski had called to ask about getting the diet
drug, and investigators convinced Snook to let them listen in.
Prosecutors wrapped up their case Thursday and Romanowski's
attorneys asked District Judge Thomas Curry to rule for acquittal.
They said there was no evidence anyone had been defrauded and no
evidence of the conspiracy Romanowski is charged with.
"Even if there's evidence of an agreement, there's no evidence
of a crime," Springer said.
Curry denied the motion and the defense also rested.
Romanowski, 35, is accused of obtaining phentermine from
prescriptions written for his wife and two other people during the
1998 season.
Prosecutors believe Romanowski used phentermine to enhance his
play. Phentermine is not banned by the NFL.
Defense attorneys suggested Grimwood was out to get Romanowski,
and during the investigation showed up at an autograph signing
session at the Park Meadows mall to make him feel uncomfortable.
"At this autograph session, you were there to intimidate Bill
and Julie Romanowski, weren't you?" Springer asked.
"That is incorrect," Grimwood replied.
Grimwood acknowledged getting an autographed photo from
Romanowski, saying he was a big fan of the NFL and of Romanowski.
Grimwood put the photo on his desk at work and in an office
prank, another sheriff's employee taped a piece of paper to the
frame that read: "Proud to be drug-free."
Before heading back into the courtroom for closing statements,
Romanowski told The Associated Press investigators had harassed
him, his housekeeper and his teammates.
"You know what they said to my teammates?" he asked. "They
said, `You tell us what's going on or you're next."'
Grimwood has denied intimidating anyone and said investigators
went out of their way to preserve the integrity of the case.
Romanowski is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a
controlled substance, one count of obtaining a controlled substance
by fraud and deceit, and two counts of conspiracy.
Jurors on Thursday were shown a video of Bill Romanowski
describing the dozens of supplements he takes as prosecutors tried
to demonstrate he was aware of what he consumed and would not have
taken phentermine without knowing what it was.
Julie Romanowski is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 14 on eight
counts of illegally obtaining phentermine and one count of
conspiracy.
Bill Romanowski is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who helped the
Broncos win Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998.
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