Photo: Poinsett County Sheriff's Office
Former NBA star Tony Allen was arrested on drug charges in Arkansas on Wednesday (November 5), CBS News reports.
Allen, 43, was charged with possession of meth or cocaine and possession of marijuana after being pulled over in a car driven by William Hatton, who received the same charges, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia and improper lane change, during a traffic stop on Interstate 555. Police said the car emitted a "strong odor" of marijuana, at which point Allen and Hatton were told to get out of the vehicle.
Allen was found to have a package containing a green, leafy substance later confirmed to be marijuana while he was searched. Several pieces of drug paraphernalia were also allegedly found in the vehicle, which Hatton confirmed was his.
"Further examination of the vehicle uncovered a cigarette box in the passenger seat pouch where Allen was seated. Inside the box, a clear plastic wrapper that contained a white powdery substance, which later tested positive for cocaine," the Poinsett County Sheriff's Office said via CBS News.
Both Allen and Hatton were taken to the Poinsett County Detention Center and the vehicle was towed from the scene.
Allen was selected by the Boston Celtics at No. 25 overall in the 2004 NBA Draft and spent his first six seasons with the franchise, which included winning the 2008 NBA championship, before signing with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2010. The former Oklahoma State standout was a strong defensive presence on the Grizzlies' 'Grit and Grind' teams of the 2010s as a three-time NBA All-Defensive First team and three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection.
Allen spent part of the 2017-18 season with the New Orleans Pelicans before being traded to the Chicago Bulls on February 1, 2018, and waived eight days later prior to ever appearing in a game.