Tuesday, December 7, 2004
Arrest warrants requested for Indiana players
ESPN.com news services
PONTIAC, Mich. -- Five Indiana Pacers players and five Detroit Pistons fans were charged Wednesday in one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history -- a melee last month that broke out on the basketball court and spread to the stands.
NBA players Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson, David Harrison and Anthony Johnson were all charged with one count of assault and battery, a misdemeanor that could bring three months in jail and a $500 fine. Jermaine O'Neal was charged with two counts of assault and battery.
The five fans were charged with the same offenses. One of them, Bryant Jackson, 35, was also charged with felony assault -- punishable by up to four years in prison -- for allegedly hurling a chair.
The fight broke out Nov. 19 during a game against the Detroit Pistons after an on-court dispute over a foul. A fan tossed a drink at Artest, who then charged into the stands and began beating a man he thought had done it.
Among the fans charged was John Green, the man accused of throwing the cup.
"John Green ... in my mind single-handedly incited this whole interaction between the fans and players and probably is the one that's most culpable," prosecutor David Gorcyca said.
The fans charged also included Detroit Pistons star Ben Wallace's brother, David, of Selma, Ala., was in town to watch the game.
The Pacers declined to comment on the specifics of the charges.
"This is a legal matter and we are unable to comment," Pacers CEO and president Donnie Walsh said in a statement. "The players charged, who have retained individual legal counsel, will also refrain from comment. We also will not comment until the legal matters are fully resolved. In the meantime, we will continue to support our players in every possible way for the duration of these proceedings and afterward."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Arrest warrants requested for Indiana players
ESPN.com news services
PONTIAC, Mich. -- Five Indiana Pacers players and five Detroit Pistons fans were charged Wednesday in one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history -- a melee last month that broke out on the basketball court and spread to the stands.
NBA players Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson, David Harrison and Anthony Johnson were all charged with one count of assault and battery, a misdemeanor that could bring three months in jail and a $500 fine. Jermaine O'Neal was charged with two counts of assault and battery.
The five fans were charged with the same offenses. One of them, Bryant Jackson, 35, was also charged with felony assault -- punishable by up to four years in prison -- for allegedly hurling a chair.
The fight broke out Nov. 19 during a game against the Detroit Pistons after an on-court dispute over a foul. A fan tossed a drink at Artest, who then charged into the stands and began beating a man he thought had done it.
Among the fans charged was John Green, the man accused of throwing the cup.
"John Green ... in my mind single-handedly incited this whole interaction between the fans and players and probably is the one that's most culpable," prosecutor David Gorcyca said.
The fans charged also included Detroit Pistons star Ben Wallace's brother, David, of Selma, Ala., was in town to watch the game.
The Pacers declined to comment on the specifics of the charges.
"This is a legal matter and we are unable to comment," Pacers CEO and president Donnie Walsh said in a statement. "The players charged, who have retained individual legal counsel, will also refrain from comment. We also will not comment until the legal matters are fully resolved. In the meantime, we will continue to support our players in every possible way for the duration of these proceedings and afterward."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.