Apr 14, 2008 2:40 pm US/Central
Carmelo Arrested For Alleged DUI, Issues Apology
Star Forward Pulled Over At 4 A.M. Monday Morning After He Failed To Stay In A Single Lane
DENVER (CBS) ―
Denver Nuggets player Carmelo Anthony was arrested Monday morning for suspicion of driving under the influence, Denver police said. The star forward later issued an apology through his attorney, CBS station KCNC-TV in Denver reports.
Police said Anthony was driving south on Interstate 25 near 20th Street at about 4 a.m. when he was pulled over and taken into custody. Investigators said he was driving a silver Mercedes that was stopped for failing to drive in a single lane and failing to dim lights.
Anthony's attorney, Dan Recht, said the player was alone in the car when he was stopped.
"[Anthony] cooperated by consenting to a blood test, the results of which will not be available for approximately two weeks," Recht said in a prepared statement. "There was no accident and no one was hurt. Like anyone in a similar situation, Carmelo has to wait for the results of the blood test. He regrets putting himself in this situation. In the meantime, Carmelo will try to stay focused on his family and his team. Carmelo apologizes to his fans, the Denver community, his teammates and the Nuggets' organization for the distraction this is causing them."
Mark Warkentien, the Nuggets' vice president of basketball operations, said the team was aware of the situation but declined comment. The Nuggets did not practice Monday and Anthony wasn't available. He's expected at practice Tuesday.
A summons appearance was scheduled for May 14.
Anthony was held to 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting against a Rockets team that was missing defensive specialist Shane Battier. Anthony did extend his NBA-best streak of double-digit games to 206.
The Nuggets (49-32) moved a half game ahead of Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference on Sunday night when they beat Houston 111-94. Denver can clinch a fifth straight postseason berth by beating Memphis at home Wednesday night or if the Warriors lose at Phoenix on Monday night or against Seattle on Wednesday night.
On Saturday, Anthony committed a flagrant foul against Utah's Deron Williams that changed the course of a close game. The Jazz went on to win 124-97.
Anthony was named an All-Star starter for the first time this year. He's fourth in the NBA in scoring (25.8) and is averaging a career-best 7.4 rebounds.
Last season, he was involved in a brawl at Madison Square Garden. After J.R. Smith was collared on his way to a breakaway basket in the closing minutes of a rout, Anthony, then the league's leading scorer, dropped the New York Knicks' Mardy Collins with a punch that drew a 15-game suspension.
In February, Anthony was ticketed in Colorado for driving 25 mph over the posted speed limit. A hearing is set for next month.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
