09-12-2007, 04:05 PM
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 Pacers F Williams arrested on marijuana possession charge
Quote:
AP - Sep 11, 3:34 pm EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Pacers Forward Shawne Williams was arrested on marijuana possession and other charges, Tuesday, the third incident in less than a year involving Indiana players.
Team president Larry Bird said the organization was "extremely disappointed" by Williams' arrest.
"Although the legal process needs to be followed, we will not accept Shawne putting himself in this position, regardless of innocence or guilt," Bird said in a statement. "This was clearly a bad and unacceptable decision. We will be meeting with Shawne at some point to discuss this and pursue any disciplinary action we can take."
The Pacers' first-round draft pick last year from Memphis, Williams was booked into the Marion County Jail early Tuesday on initial charges of possession of marijuana, driving without a license, driving with an expired license plate and failure to signal a lane change, police said.
In addition, front seat passenger Roosevelt Rollins, of Memphis, Tenn., was arrested on marijuana possession charges, and a back seat passenger was arrested on charges of carrying a gun without a license and theft. The 9 mm handgun had been reported stolen in Collierville, Tenn., according to a police report.
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  According to Indianapolis Police Department spokesman Sgt. Matthew Mount: Williams was driving an SUV which was pulled over for changing lanes without signaling about 12:45 a.m. When Williams rolled down the driver's side window, the officer detected a strong odor of marijuana. Another officer later found a smoldering cigar-sized marijuana cigarette in the vehicle's ash tray.
"The guy in the front passenger seat, Mr. Rollins, said the marijuana was his and Mr. Williams denied knowledge of the marijuana even being in his car even though you could obviously smell the odor of burnt marijuana," Mount said.
Mount said Williams had no driver's license and instead handed the officer a Tennessee identification card. He said the SUV's registration had expired in July.
Williams was released Tuesday afternoon and did not speak with reporters as he left the jail.
Telephone messages were left for Williams' agent, Bill McCandless, and for James Voyles, a prominent Indianapolis defense attorney who left the jail with Williams.
An initial hearing for Williams is scheduled for Friday in Marion Superior Court.
The 6-foot-9 Williams averaged 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 46 games in his rookie season.
Legal problems involving Pacers players started last Oct. 6 when Stephen Jackson and some teammates got into a fight with others at an Indianapolis strip club. Jackson, whom the Pacers traded to the Golden State Warriors in January, pleaded guilty in June to a felony charge for firing a gun into the air and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service. He also has been suspended by the NBA for the first seven games of next season.
Pacers players Jamaal Tinsley and Marquis Daniels face pending charges stemming from a fight at an Indianapolis nightclub in February. Tinsley faces the most serious charge, a felony count of intimidation.
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