NBA off-season Arrests Thread

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

Since we have a thread for free agent acquisitions and in light of the recent arrests of several NBA superstars, I thought it was fitting that we had an official thread for all of their off-season exploits.

 

Let’s begin with Damon Stoudamire…

 

PHOENIX -- Portland Trail Blazers guard Damon Stoudamire was arrested on a misdemeanor drug offense at Tucson International Airport, airport officials confirmed Monday.

 

Stoudamire was arrested as he attempted to board a plane on Thursday, said airport spokeswoman Paula Winn.

She had no other details about the incident early Monday, but a police report was expected to be filed later in the day.

Stoudamire has been arrested twice previously on drug charges, both stemming from marijuana.

In November, Stoudamire and teammate Rasheed Wallace were passengers in a vehicle that was stopped for speeding on a highway outside Chehalis, Wash., following a game with Seattle. A search of the vehicle turned up a small amount of marijuana, police said.

Stoudamire, Wallace and driver Ed Smith of Portland were cited and released. All three pleaded innocent to the charges.

Stoudamire agreed to attend drug and alcohol counseling and stay out of legal trouble for the next year to have misdemeanor charges against him dropped.

It was not immediately clear how Stoudamire's latest arrest would affect that agreement.

Calls to Stoudamire's attorney, Steve Houze, were not returned. The Trail Blazers also did not return calls requesting comment.

Earlier in 2002, Stoudamire was charged with a felony after police found a large bag of marijuana in his home while responding to a burglar alarm. A judge declared the search illegal, but prosecutors are appealing.

Stoudamire was drafted from Arizona in 1995 by the Toronto Raptors, where he was Rookie of the Year in 1996. He was traded to the Trail Blazers in 1998.

Stoudamire is attending summer school at the University of Arizona and working toward a degree in media arts, with a minor in sports broadcasting. Stoudamire, who left school two terms short of graduation in 1995, promised his mother he would eventually get his degree, according to a June 27 article in The Portland Tribune.

 

 

 

How about Darrell Armstrong…

 

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando Magic guard Darrell Armstrong was arrested early Monday after being accused of fighting with a female police officer outside a nightclub.

 

Armstrong was booked into the Orange County jail on charges of battery on a law-enforcement officer and resisting arrest without violence. He was released after posting $1,000 bond.

Armstrong tried to enter a full taxi outside a club and, upset over being denied a ride, he stood in traffic, Orlando police Sgt. Orlando Rolon said.

When Officer Teresa Joyce tried to get Armstrong out of the street, he briefly scuffled with her and other officers before being arrested, police said.

Joyce severely sprained her left middle and ring fingers while trying to restrain Armstrong, Rolon said.

Upon his release, Armstrong admitted slapping the officer's hand away, but said he was provoked.

"Don't put your hands on me, that's all I'm saying,'' said Armstrong, whose shirt had a rip. "I only knocked her hand.''

The 35-year-old Armstrong, a nine-year NBA veteran, is a free agent, and the Magic have not said whether they will try to re-sign him. Armstrong averaged 9.4 points and 3.9 assists in a reserve role last season.

"We are just becoming aware of the situation,'' Magic general manager John Gabriel said. "We know Darrell and we're, obviously, very surprised at the news. We always support our players to the best of our abilities.

"But because this is a legal matter at this time, we don't have more to add.''

Armstrong's agent, Glenn Schwartzman, did not immediately return a phone message, and it could not be immediately determined if Armstrong has a lawyer.