Former NBA guard Ty Lawson has been arrested in Colorado after police allege he stole a bottle of vodka from a liquor store before verbally abusing an officer during his arrest.
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According to police documents obtained by TMZ, Lawson was arrested on July 16 in the town of Castle Rock after allegedly taking a $34 (A$48) bottle of Tito’s Handmade Vodka from a local liquor store before walking to a nearby restaurant without paying for it.
Officers who confronted the former Denver Nuggets point guard believed he was intoxicated during the incident, with the affidavit stating Lawson smelled of alcohol and appeared unsteady on his feet, struggling to stand still.
Following the incident, Lawson was booked into the Douglas County Jail on a misdemeanour shoplifting charge involving property valued at less than $300 (A$429) before later being released.
The affidavit also detailed Lawson’s alleged behaviour during the arrest.
Police allege he repeatedly called one officer a “b****” and a “white b****” while shouting “stop” several times during processing. Authorities further claim Lawson kicked the glass wall of his holding cell and spat on the floor after being taken into custody.
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According to the police report, Lawson later apologised for his behaviour.
Lawson has not publicly commented on the allegations through traditional media but appeared to address the incident on X.
“Being black in America is tough…. Being lied by a pasty face white woman wild… stay outta castle rock Colorado!!!!”
“This the wildest and more racist s*** I been thru.”
The arrest is the latest legal issue involving the former NBA guard.
In 2015, Lawson pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired following a DUI arrest in Colorado. Later that year, he was arrested again in California on suspicion of driving under the influence before eventually entering a rehabilitation program.
Lawson, now 38, was once regarded as one of the NBA’s better young point guards.
Ty Lawson #3 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against the Utah Jazz on April 1, 2015. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
Ty Lawson #3 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against the Utah Jazz on April 1, 2015. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
After starring at the University of North Carolina, where he earned All-American honours and helped lead the Tar Heels to the 2009 NCAA National Championship, Lawson was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves before his draft rights were immediately traded to the Denver Nuggets.
He spent nine seasons in the NBA, including six with Denver, while also playing for the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards.
During his prime, Lawson averaged more than 15 points per game across four consecutive seasons and finished 12th in MVP voting in 2012-13 after averaging 16.7 points and 6.9 assists per game.
Denver Nuggets' Ty Lawson (3) drives past Phoenix Suns' Shannon Brown during the first half of an NBA basketball game 21 Apr 2012, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Denver Nuggets' Ty Lawson (3) drives past Phoenix Suns' Shannon Brown during the first half of an NBA basketball game 21 Apr 2012, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)Source: AP
Across 551 regular season games, Lawson averaged 12.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists, earning more than US$43.4 million (approximately A$62.3 million) during his NBA career.
His NBA career came to an end in 2017 before he continued playing professionally overseas. In recent years, however, his post-playing life has increasingly been overshadowed by off-court legal issues.