Posted on 10/06/2006 9:43:43 AM PDT by BJClinton
INDIANAPOLIS - Stephen Jackson of the Indiana Pacers was slugged in the mouth, struck by a car and fired a gun in the air in self-defense outside a strip club early Friday, police said.
Jackson was limping but refused medical treatment at the scene, police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Mount said. Jackson conferred with a team trainer and sought treatment at a hospital.
Officers found a small amount of marijuana in the passenger side door of Pacer point guard Jamaal Tinsley's car, police said. Officers could not determine the car's driver or to whom the marijuana belonged, so no arrests were made.
There were no reports of anyone hit by gunfire. Police were looking for the car that struck Jackson, and others involved. Jackson was at the Indianapolis club with teammates Tinsley, Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter, police said.
Jackson told officers he fired his 9 mm pistol five times after he was hit in the mouth and tossed on the hood of the car, Mount said.
Coach Rick Carlisle declined comment Friday, and calls by The Associated Press to team president Larry Bird and chief executive Donnie Walsh weren't immediately returned. A message was left with Jackson's agent, Dan Fegan.
The Pacers said Friday that all involved are cooperating with police, and none of the players at the strip club would be available to the media after practice Friday.
"Since this is an ongoing review of the matters that took place Friday morning, the Pacers will have no further comment at this time," the team said in a statement.
The mayhem began with an argument inside Club Rio involving patrons and players, Mount said. The players said they left the club, but the patrons followed them.
"At some point when leaving the club, a verbal altercation ensued ... that turned into a physical altercation," Mount said.
Tinsley and Daniels also had guns in their cars, and all three armed players had weapons permits, Mount said, although Daniels' permit was issued by Florida.
The strip club's managers told police that professional athletes sometimes come to the club.
"They don't have a lot of problems there," Mount said.
Jackson was suspended 30 games for his role in a brawl with Detroit Pistons fans at Auburn Hills, Mich., two seasons ago. Last season, he repeatedly argued with officials and his coach, and was singled out by Bird for his negative attitude.
Jackson pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault charges related to Auburn Hills and was sentenced in September 2005 to a year's probation and community service.
Bird said in May his players must shape up or play elsewhere next season. He said he was through dealing with what he said were bad attitudes, selfishness and laziness.
"They're the ones that have to make the changes," he said at the time. "If they can't make the changes, yes, we have to look to move them."
Jackson, a 28-year-old guard, joined the Pacers in 2004 and averaged 16 points during the 2005-06 season.
During a recent news conference, he hugged Carlisle and sat by his side to answer questions — a gesture the Pacers hoped would symbolize improved team chemistry. That happened a day after Carlisle signed a contract extension and was given the title of executive vice president of basketball operations.
He's also the one who bitched the loudest about the NBA banning jewelry claiming that it was racist. Mr Jackson, you s'pose it could have more to do with bling-bling's association with gangsta behavior?
I tell you, these basketball players are just fantastic role models for young people!
Low life spoiled millionaires.
remember this guy throwing haymakers in Detroit? LOL
Officers found a small amount of marijuana in the passenger side door of Pacer point guard Jamaal Tinsley's car, police said. Officers could not determine the car's driver or to whom the marijuana belonged, so no arrests were made.
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lol, normally I'd think they'd arrest whosever car it was for possession. Wonder why not in this case...
"Officers found a small amount of marijuana in the passenger side door of Pacer point guard Jamaal Tinsley's car"
Thug ridin dirty-LOL
Is there ANY basketball player that doesnt have a rap sheet?
You don't fire into the air if you're firing in self-defense, you fire into the air to act like a bad ass.
Jackson is talented but apparently difficult. Now he's not a little guy either. To be "tossed" on to the hood of a car is no small matter.
Tinsley is a good guy and may have defused that situation. He's a talented guy with more smarts than Jackson.
But I've seen how these things get started in the parking lot of these clubs. It's usually utterly stupid.
Local LEO a Pacers fan? A basketball fan in Indiana? No, never.
By the way the title of this article reads, it sounds as if Jackson was shooting toward the club, not firing into the air. I can't stand reporters who can't write a clear and concise headline or sentence.
WTF?!?!
Maybe they should try the OWNER of the car!
Don't we hear all the time on COPS that drivers are responsible for everything in their car?
I guess that doesn't apply if you play for the state's NBA team.
"...although Daniels' permit was issued by Florida."
Query?:
Why is there not a followup line that says, " ...and he was subsequently arrested fro having an unlicensed handgun and for transporting weapons across state lines."
Oh. I forgot. NBA
Actually I believe that a permit in one "shall issue" state is valid in other "shall issue" states.
IN has Reciprocity w/ FL, his permit is good.
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