Yankees general partner Steve Swindal, George Steinbrenner's son-in-law and chosen successor, was arrested early yesterday in St. Petersburg, Fla., and charged with driving under the influence, according to police. A St. Petersburg police spokesman said last night that Swindal was driving 61 mph in a 35-mph zone at 2:12 a.m. and nearly hit an officer after cutting her off in traffic. The officer "had to slam on the brakes and swerve to avoid hitting him," spokesman Bill Proffitt said. After Swindal refused a Breathalyzer and failed a sobriety test, he was taken to a jail in Largo, according to an electronic copy of his charge report on the county sheriff's Web site. <A TARGET="_top" HREF="http://ad.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh=v8/34fb/3/0/%2a/d%3B73200565%3B0-0%3B0%3B12927932%3B4307-300/250%3B20060874/20078768/1%3B%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp://www.LazBoy.com"><IMG SRC="http://m1.2mdn.net/1212094/lazboy0207cube2.jpg" BORDER=0></A> Swindal was booked at 4:26 a.m., was released at 9:53 a.m. on $250 bond and is scheduled to appear in court March 13. "Mr. Swindal apologizes profusely for this distraction during the Yankees' spring training," spokesman Howard Rubenstein said in a statement released yesterday evening. Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement, "We believe this is currently a matter for Mr. Swindal, the Steinbrenner family and the local authorities in Florida. Given the circumstances, I will continue to monitor the situation and will review the ultimate disposition."