Posted on 07/11/2006 7:09:59 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
LOCHBUIE, Colo. -- Police found marijuana in Carmelo Anthony's car during a traffic stop, but the Denver Nuggets star wasn't in the vehicle at the time, officers said Tuesday.
Anthony and team officials refused to comment. Anthony is set to sign an $80 million, five-year contract extension on Wednesday.
Police said Tyler Brandon Smith, who identified himself as Anthony's friend and roommate, was pulled over late Sunday in this small town 20 miles northeast of Denver and cited for marijuana possession and three traffic infractions.
Police said Smith was driving the 2005 Dodge Magnum, which was registered to Anthony's company, Melo Enterprises. Police said two other men were in the car, but they were not cited and their names were not released.
Police Sgt. Dan Boyle said Smith was pulled over just before 11 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 76 in Lochbuie, a town of 3,300. An officer smelled marijuana and found a small amount in the center console of the car, Boyle said.
Smith was issued summonses for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, driving in the passing lane when prohibited, failing to drive in a single lane and failing to present proof of vehicle insurance.
Each charge is a misdemeanor. The marijuana charge carries a fine of up to $100 for conviction but no jail time.
Smith was released and the car was returned to him because his address was the same as Melo Enterprises, Boyle said.
No phone numbers were available for Smith or Melo Enterprises.
Bill Duffy, president of BDA Sports Management, which represents Anthony, told the Rocky Mountain News that Anthony was out of town Sunday and had nothing to do with the incident. Duffy did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press.
It was the second time Anthony has been linked to marijuana. In October 2004, Denver airport inspectors found marijuana in his backpack, but prosecutors dropped a drug charge after a friend said the marijuana was his and Anthony didn't know about it.
Anthony has also made headlines for a bar fight in New York and an appearance in a bootleg DVD in Baltimore in which a man threatened to kill drug snitches.
He started to make all his noise on the court last season, averaging a career high in points and leading the Nuggets to the top of the Northwest Division despite a rash of injuries.
Warrior BUMP
His nickname is Melo.....
An NBA player who smokes ganja? Man, there goes the league's reputation...
Dont they drug test in the NBA?
If they tested for ganja in the NBA they wouldn't have enough players left to take the court.
Cute comment. I've never seen it before. Did you actually type it out or use a macro?
I plagarized it. Where's you buddy Robert Paulsen?
Let's hear it for decriminalization. Wow! $100. Can he afford such a punishment? What little marijuana found in the car was probably worth more than that.
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