Popeye Jones Arrested for DWI

Popeye Jones, a veteran of 11 NBA seasons who's now entering his fourth season as a player development coach with the Dallas Mavericks, was arrested Sunday evening and accused of drunken driving. According to the Dallas Morning News, the Richardson (Texas) Police Department received calls from other motorists complaining that someone driving a gray GMC Yukon was driving erratically.

When he was pulled over, Jones refused a breathalyzer exam -- and briefly resisted arrest. At some point during the whole incident, Jones' face hit the pavement, resulting in minor cuts and one bloodied mugshot. If he merely "lost his balance," as the Morning News reports, it won't bode well for any defense claiming that he wasn't intoxicated.

But if he were, say, helped to the ground by the officers on the scene, this case may not be as open and shut as your average DWI arrest, especially given Jones' relatively high profile as an NBA coach with more incentive than most to formally clear his name and reputation.

FanHouse has received confirmation from the Richardson Police Department that the arresting officers were using an in-car dashboard camera, although video from that device, as well as video from the detention center, will not be released at this time.

Assuming the video presents a clear angle, it's possible the footage will quickly clarify what exactly happened when it is finally released -- which is fortunate, because it doesn't seem like the Mavericks plan on being too forthcoming on the incident.

When the Morning News asked Mavs owner Mark Cuban for comment, he emailed an indignant response: "I'm not going to comment on Popeye specifically. The question I do have on the record is this: Why do you care? Do you report on every DWI that occurs in Dallas?"

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

11-02-2009 @ 6:13PM

Ronny said...

Boy, I bet that response made you feel like about 3 inches tall, lol> Way to go Mark, your way to down to earth! LMAO

11-02-2009 @ 6:22PM

boldbigman said...

Popeye Jones what a bone head. LoL@ Mark Cuban good response.

11-03-2009 @ 2:23AM

Dvdfrnzwbr said...

Uh oh. I sense an Obamma White House Beer Summit. Have these Police Officers acted stupidly?

11-02-2009 @ 7:53PM

ronnie said...

sounds like popeye had too many spinich martini"s

11-02-2009 @ 8:25PM

jmartinlegal said...

Popeye got jacked up by the Dallas police. Good work, boys.

11-02-2009 @ 8:27PM

Mystical Knight said...

That face is what happens when a drunk thinks he is too good to cooperate with the police. I take offense that the writer implies the police did anything wrong.

11-02-2009 @ 9:32PM

HANG IN THERE! said...

I am not saying or implying that the police department did anything wrong. But on the other hand, have you, the one that TOOK OFENSE, ever heard of policy brutality? I have.

11-02-2009 @ 10:42PM

D. said...

Because as you know, the police can never do anything wrong....right?

11-03-2009 @ 12:54AM

morgan1t said...

you can take your mystical knight stick and shove it. Why do u all think your above it?

11-03-2009 @ 5:06AM

robert said...

take offense ha...ha... I doubt you could take a $h1t without getting it all over yourself.(mystical putz) is more like it.

11-03-2009 @ 5:20AM

Craig said...

Oh No! The Dallas police would never do anything that could be contrued as bigoted, racist or heavy-handed. LOL Can the rest of us move to your planet, where the police operate with the notion that they're Peace Officers? Maybe they'd just rather go taze an old lady and call it a day.

11-03-2009 @ 7:28PM

DickWoods said...

You should not take offense. Most police officers suffer from double digit ego;s and single digit IQ's

11-02-2009 @ 8:35PM

Terry said...

These are your pyshopathic cop in TExas and will likely be throughout the country as we have this sweep of cops. A man is drunk, treat him like a drunk and unless he is fighting with you take him to jail or detox. If the man is that drunk he is essetially unable to defend himself and not a threat. Get ready America, if you pose any slight resistence to the government they will either beat you or tazer you. Why dont they release the video? Because they probably abused this man and dont want to admit it the psychopaths. I am not saying all cops are like this but its getting worse and it will get worse and guess who is the president? Its not Bush, your second guess is correct.

11-02-2009 @ 10:28PM

rwdunedin said...

Get a life, apparently you have never fought a drunk or been in or at a bar fight........typical response from someone with no life experience

11-03-2009 @ 12:30AM

pnapoli117 said...

To all you liberals out there commenting against the police-- Have you ever tusselled with a drunk? Probably not. I have, many times, as a police officer. drunks seem to feel they are "supermen" and don't feel the pain and become easily enraged and dangerous. The simple answer when being arrested for anything---DON'T RESIST ARREST! DWI's are inherently dangerous to innocent families on the road. They kill innocent people and the drunk driver almost always walks away unharmed. You liberals and your families might be next (I hope not) --but maybe then you will change your tunes.
A retired police officer

11-03-2009 @ 5:27AM

It's time for your reality pill bubba. Even thinking that a presumably liberal black president would have influence over the operations of the Dallas police department is laughable. The only thing the DPD would do for President Obama would be to lead his motorcade to the nearest grassy knoll.

11-02-2009 @ 8:38PM

wlh1923 said...

Typical police behavior. At some point in the process his face came in contact with the pavement. Yeah while he was handcuffed and being beaten he "lost his balance" and "fell". Uh huh. Sure thing. Goood going there cops.

11-03-2009 @ 1:25PM

nomadicsub said...

I think this comment is on target. Do you AOL viewers notice the defiance in the victim's face and the way he maintains his personal dignity? It looks like he was over-arrested. Typical police conduct? I remember hearing on the news several times in Gainesville, Florida of youthful suspects beings rounded up and mysteriously dying during the arrest and incarceration process. Just their time to go, huh? What a coincidence! Then when I needed the help of the Sheriff's Dept., they were not there for me.