Why was former NBA player Delonte West arrested in Virginia?
A player who spent almost a decade in the league, the former Celtics guard has struggled with substance abuse and appears to have lost his way once again.
The case of Delonte West is one that is far more sad than it is disturbing. At this point, it may be that he requires therapy rather than incarceration but unfortunately, the charges that he now faces will have to be dealt with first.
Delonte West arrested on multiple charges
According to reports on Thursday, former NBA player Delonte West was arrested in Virginia on misdemeanor charges of violating the conditions of his release and resisting arrest. It is understood that West is currently being detained at the Fairfax County Detention Center on a $2,000 bond.
As per reports, police officers were attempting to serve West a warrant on Thursday morning, when the 40-year-old chose to run from them. Following a brief chase during which law enforcement officials lost sight of West, he was eventually discovered unresponsive. It was at that point that officers administered Narcan, an opioid antagonist or in other words, a medication used to reverse or reduce the effects of opioids. West was then taken to a hospital after the medication “did not have the desired effect,” and after a second dose was administered, he was detained at the county’s detention center. It is understood that he will be arraigned on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m.
Sadly, this is not the first time West has found himself in trouble. In 2022, he was arrested in Fairfax County on multiple charges including vehicle trespassing, entering a vehicle, fleeing from law enforcement, and public intoxication. Conversely, West has tried to get help before as seen in 2021 when he received rehabilitation therapy at a facility in Florida after being taken in by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban after photos of West living on the streets were seen online. West spent the final year of his career in the NBA with the Mavs. Though he began to work with the facility following the completion of his treatment, it now appears that West was unable to maintain his new course. Drafted 24th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2004 NBA Draft, he would go on to spend four seasons in Boston before playing for the SuperSonics, the Cavaliers, and finally closing things out in Dallas in 2012.