It’s been a heartbreaking roller coaster for fans of Delonte West. After a positive update earlier this month suggested the 42-year-old was turning a corner, celebrating 30 days sober in a rehab facility, new reports reveal he’s had another run-in with the law.
According to TMZ, the former NBA guard was arrested in Belle Haven, Virginia, following an alleged robbery and assault. The incident reportedly went down on December 21, but details only began surfacing as the indictment was unsealed. Law enforcement officials say they responded to a call on Richmond Highway, where a victim claimed they had been robbed and beaten.
In a shocking detail, officials clarified that the “robbery” only involved approximately $23. West reportedly fled the scene but was picked up by officers nearby shortly after the 911 call. He was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and later released on a $1,000 bond.
Despite the setback, there is a silver lining. West’s attorney, Brandon R. Sloane, told reporters that the former Cavs player is using this latest legal hurdle as a reason to stay on the right path.
I am proud of Delonte as he has used this process to seek out help and been released on bond to a treatment facility,” Sloane shared, adding that the team is confident the case will show “things not being as they initially appear.
This arrest comes just a month after West was taken into custody in November for public intoxication, an incident police said was handled “for his own safety.
For years, the basketball community, including Mark Cuban, has rallied around West as he battles homelessness, addiction, and bipolar disorder. While the road to recovery has been filled with obstacles, his team says he is appreciative of the continued well-wishes as he heads back into treatment.
