Last Updated on January 14, 2018 by CCAR Staff
Authorities say former basketball star Dennis Rodman was arrested Saturday, Jan. 13, on suspicion of driving under the influence in Newport Beach.
Rodman, 56, was pulled over at 11:11 p.m. for a traffic violation near 4500 West Coast Highway, Lt. Rachel Johnson said.
It was immediately unknown what the violation was but officers conducted a field sobriety test on Rodman, which he failed. The former NBA player also took a Breathalyzer test and was found to be over the .08 legal limit, Johnson said.
Rodman was cooperative with authorities as he was being arrested. He was released from custody at about 6:15 a.m. Sunday morning, Jan. 14.
Rodman’s attorney Paul Meyer said in an email statement: “Dennis is taking this seriously, and will take positive steps to address his personal issues. He appreciates the professionalism of the Newport Beach Police Department.”
It was not immediately known whether he had a court date set.
It’s not Rodman’s first traffic-related incident in Orange County. He was charged with hit-and-run in a Santa Ana wreck in July 2016.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Rodman was driving an SUV north in the southbound carpool lane of the 5 freeway near Main Street, when he allegedly drove head-on toward a sedan, causing that driver to swerve and crash into a dividing wall, and then left without exchanging information.
He was sentenced in February 2017 to three years of probation for misdemeanor charges.
Rodman, who now lives in Newport Beach, played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls and other franchises, before retiring from the NBA in 2000.
