Longtime El Paso Radio Host Buzz Adams Arrested on DWI and Weapon Charges
Finn's Take· TL;DR- KLAQ radio host Buzz Adams arrested on DWI and weapons charges after traffic stop revealed loaded revolver, marijuana vape pen, and beer in vehicle.
- Deputy observed six sobriety test clues; Adams refused breath test and remaining field sobriety testing during January 10 traffic stop in El Paso.
- Station keeping Adams on air during legal proceedings; his attorney plans to address DWI charge Friday morning on the show.
Traffic Stop Leads to Multiple Charges
KLAQ radio host Buzz Adams, whose legal name is Michael Witt, was arrested on four charges, including driving while intoxicated, this weekend. The traffic stop occurred about 10:40 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, after a deputy on patrol saw a black Cadillac lacking a front Texas license plate as it approached the intersection of Vinton Road and Doniphan Drive. The deputy made a U-turn, got behind the Cadillac and pulled it over in the 300 block of West Vinton Road.
El Paso rock radio host Buzz Adams allegedly had a cold beer, a loaded revolver, a burnt joint and a THC vape pen in his black Cadillac when he was pulled over by an El Paso County sheriff's deputy over the weekend, court documents stated. In addition to the DWI charge, Witt is also facing charges of unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of marijuana under two ounces, and possession of a controlled substance Penalty Group 2 under one gram.
Jail records show that Witt was arrested January 10, 2026, and bonded out of jail the next day. He was booked into the El Paso County Jail under a $6,600 bond and later released on bond.
Detailed Court Documents Reveal Evidence
The El Paso Times obtained four criminal complaint affidavits filed by a deputy that revealed new details in the arrest of Adams, legal name Michael Earl Witt, 58, during a traffic stop on Jan. 10 in Vinton, just northwest of El Paso. While speaking with the driver, the deputy noticed a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and saw in the driver's door a black vape pen with a marijuana leaf symbol with yellow wax that later tested positive for THC, the complaint stated.
Adams "grabbed the vape pen and stated it was tobacco. (The deputy) seized the vape pen and advised him that tobacco vape pens don't have marijuana leaf plants on them," the deputy wrote in the affidavit. When the deputy told Adams that he had probable cause to search the vehicle, Adams allegedly told him "that there was going to be empty cartridges for marijuana joints and a .38′" in the vehicle. Adams added that the handgun belonged to him, the affidavits stated.
A loaded black .38-caliber revolver was located in the driver's door panel. Under the driver's seat, deputies found a cold 12-ounce can of Stella Artois beer as well as a white plastic tube with a red "THC!" sticker that contained a burnt joint, the affidavits stated.
Failed Sobriety Test and Radio Career
The complaint stated that Adams was swaying side to side, had difficult with his balance and allegedly displayed six out of six clues during an eye test as part of a field sobriety test conducted at the sheriff's Northwest Patrol Station in Vinton. Adams then refused to take part in the remainder of the field test. Adams "refused to provide a specimen" for a what appears to have been a breath-alcohol test but is not specified in the complaint.
The "Buzz Adams Morning Show" on KLAQ-95.5 FM has been a humorous part of El Paso morning radio since the 1990s and is syndicated to other stations in West Texas. Adams is a fixture in the region, with a show that's highly regarded for its mix of music, banter, and local engagement. It has long endured as a staple of KLAQ's programming and is syndicated to other Texas rock stations.
Station Response and Legal Proceedings
"Buzz remains on the air and an employee of KLAQ while his personal legal matter is being handled and defended by his attorney," Townsquare Media said Thursday in response to a request for comment from Inside Radio. Defense attorney Justin Underwood told ABC-7 that he will address Buzz Adams' DWI charge Friday at 7:30 a.m. on the KLAQ morning show. Adam's attorney, Justin Underwood, said that he will address the situation at 7:30 a.m. Friday on Adams' radio show.
The case highlights the complex challenges faced by public figures when personal legal troubles intersect with their professional careers. While Adams remains on the air during these proceedings, the detailed nature of the court documents and the multiple charges suggest this situation will require careful navigation through the legal system. The radio industry will be watching closely to see how both the legal proceedings and Adams' broadcasting career unfold in the coming weeks.