Call it “The Thirst Games.”
“The Hunger Games: Cathing Fire” actor Jeffrey Wright was given a slide this morning on a recent Lower East Side DWI arrest — thanks to the “Now you’re drunk, now you’re not” antics of cops.
Wright — slated to reprise his role as “Beetee” in the upcoming “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” — had blown a .089 when cops pulled his Toyota Tacoma over at Christie and Hester streets for allegedly speeding on a pre-dawn morning in April.
That’s just above the .08 DWI limit. But by the time Wright was given a more precise Intoxilyzer test several hours later in the 7th Precinct stationhouse, he blew a 0.00, prosecutors said today, in asking that the charges be dismissed.
This, despite the odor of booze, the bloodshot and watery eyes and the slurred speech cops had said Wright had exhibited immediately after being pulled over.
“The Intoxilyzer result was 0.00,” defense lawyer Scott Leemon told Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Neil Ross, joining in the motion to dismiss the charges.
After reviewing the test result for himself, the judge did dismiss and seal the case. He also expunged Wright’s license suspension, telling him, “Good luck to you, sir.”
Wright, who wore a dark grey suit, did not comment as he left court. Leemon declined to comment on the delay in timing between the first and second test, except to say, “It was a long night for Mr. Wright.”
The respected, versatile character actor has appeared as Felix Leiter in Bond flicks “Quantum of Solace” and “Casino Royale,” and portrayed the title role in “Basquiat.”
Additional reporting by Yasmine Phillips.