Stephen Jackson Hit By Car, Fights With Men, Fires Gun
October 11th, 2006 by Michael StephensTrouble really seems to find NBA players in the off-season.
Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson has been charged with criminal recklessness, following last week’s confrontation outside a strip club in which he fought with a group of men, was hit by a car, and fired his gun in the air. Teammates Jamaal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter were also at the club, getting their drink on and acting hard, but were not charged in the skirmish.
Jackson was hit by a car upon leaving the club, after which police say he fired a gun in the air at least five times. He originally told police he was punched, but later said he was not.
On Tuesday, the Pacer swingman / gun-toting maniac apologized for the fight, saying he was “happy to be alive.”
His comments came hours after police arrested another man on several charges in connection with the fight. Jackson was expected to turn himself in Wednesday or Thursday, prosecutors said.
The felony count faced by the guard/forward carries a prison term of six months to three years. Stunningly, the Pacers did not immediately return phone calls.
Deon Willford, 23, faces felony counts of criminal recklessness and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, and a misdemeanor count of driving without a license.
Willford drove a car that hit Jackson, sending him tumbling over the hood. Police said Jackson fired a gun in the air around 3 a.m.
“Firing the shots in the air at that point is criminal recklessness,” Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said. “Those bullets, once they come up, have to come down, and they come down at least 90 miles per hour, and they do absolutely have the ability to take someone’s life.”
Brizzi said 30-35 people were in the parking lot watching what was surely a dazzling display of professional athletes brawling.
Jackson returned to training camp Tuesday with stitches in his lip and scrapes and bruises. Prosecutors say the injuries were all caused by the car hitting him.
Officers said they found a small amount of marijuana in the passenger-side door of point guard Tinsley’s car. But no arrests were made at the time because there were three others in Tinsley’s car and police could not determine who had the marijuana, authorities said.
None of the other players were charged. Tinsley and Hunter told investigators they heard gunshots, but did not see who was shooting, according to an Indianapolis police report. Daniels told police he saw Jackson struck by a car, but was not sure if he heard any gunshots.
Jackson returned to the Pacers’ training camp on Tuesday with stitches in his lip and other scrapes and bruises. The Pacers were to open preseason play today against the New Jersey Nets, but Jackson was not expected to play.
Prosecutors said Jackson kicked a man who police said has a deformed arm. Jackson told cops that the man, Quentin Willford, started the brawl.
Another man, Raymel Mattox, was charged with misdemeanor counts of battery, disorderly conduct and marijuana possession. Police say he also hit Quentin Willford.
Jackson was one of the primary participants in the infamous Pacers-Pistons-fans brawl back in the 2004-2005 season. He received a suspension of many games. His latest extracurricular activies come as terrific news for the NBA, which had hoped to remake its image with a new ball and by disallowing high school players in its draft. Nice work.
