Belfour pleads guilty to resisting arrest

It was an incident Dallas Stars goaltender Ed Belfour won't forget, and he hopes will never happen again.

Appearing in court on Tuesday, Belfour apologized for his resisting arrest in a hotel room in March and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour charge of resisting police transfer.

Under the plea agreement, the 35-year-old netminder was sentenced to 24 months probation and received a $3,000 fine. He was ordered by the judge to visit two Dallas schools to warn students about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

"You're an important part of this community," Judge Barker told Mr. Belfour. "I think you owe an apology to some people."

"I'm real sorry for the incident that took place," Mr. Belfour told the four Dallas police officers who were involved in his arrest. "I won't let it happen again."

On March 8, an intoxicated Belfour, and a woman went to The Mansion at Turtle Creek. Belfour become loud and hotel security was called. The woman told hotel officials she was afraid of Belfour and was escorted to a cab.

When a guard tried to subdue Belfour, the former Vezina Trophy winner slammed the man up against the wall and put him in a headlock. He continued to fight with the man until police sprayed him with pepper spray, a report said.

Belfour continued to be abusive, struggling with officers when he was arrested and in the squad car.

Belfour's attorney, Jim Burnham, said that Belfour wanted the officers to be present in court so they could hear his apology.

"It was his idea," Mr. Burnham said. "He apologized to everyone, the police, the fans and the Stars organization."