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Five Pacers, seven fans charged in NBA brawl
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-09 09:17
Five Indiana Pacers and seven fans were charged Wednesday in the melee that
broke out at the end of a nationally televised game against the Detroit Pistons
last month, one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history.
In this video
framegrab shown during a news conference, in Pontiac, Mich, Wednesday,
Dec. 8, 2004, by Oakland County (Mich). prosecutors, spectator John Green,
center with baseball cap , holds Indiana Pacers' Ron Artest during a fight
between fans and several Indiana players, at the Palace in Auburn Hills,
Mich., Nov. 19, 2004. [AP] |
Players Ron
Artest, Stephen Jackson, David Harrison and Anthony Johnson were charged with
one count of assault and battery. Jermaine O'Neal, a three-time NBA All-Star,
was charged with two counts of assault and battery.
Five fans were charged with misdemeanor assault and battery, including
Pistons star Ben Wallace's brother, David. Bryant Jackson also was charged with
felony assault for throwing a chair into the fray, Oakland County prosecutor
David Gorcyca said.
The misdemeanor carries up to three months in jail and a fine of up to $500,
and the felony carries up to four years in prison, although Jackson could face
more time because he has a prior criminal record, Gorcyca said.
Gorcyca singled out spectator John Green, who faces two assault counts and,
the prosecutor said, "single-handedly incited this whole interaction between the
fans and players and probably is the one that's most culpable." Green, who also
has a prior criminal record, is accused of throwing a cup at Artest, splashing
him and sparking the brawl.
John Ackerman and William Paulson, each facing an assault charge, also were
accused of throwing a cup or liquid in players' faces. (Paulson's last name is
listed as Paulson and Pawlson on the arrest warrant.)
In this vedoe
framegrab shown during a news conference in Pontiac, Mich., Wednesday,
Dec. 8, 2004 by Oakland County (Mich). prosecutors, John Green, with
baseball cap, holds onto Indiana Pacers' Ron Artest as Artest is splashed
in the face with a liquid thrown by William Pawlson during the fight at
the Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich., Nov. 19, 2004.
[AP] | In addition, two men were charged for
walking onto the court at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Police said other fans
could be charged, too.
Gorcyca said the players and fans without prior convictions would probably
face probation and fines if found guilty.
Pacers chief executive Donnie Walsh said the team would not comment until the
case is resolved. "In the meantime, we will continue to support our players in
every possible way," he said.
James W. Burdick, Stephen Jackson's lawyer, said it was "unfair and
inappropriate" to charge his client.
"The problem is this: a few crazed drunken fans who created a chaotic
situation," Burdick said. "Steve responded in a way that he thought was
necessary to protect himself and protect his friends."
Walter Piszczatowski, Harrison's lawyer, said: "David was acting as the
peacekeeper throughout that evening. He was trying to make sure everybody was
safe."
With less than a minute left in the Pacers-Pistons game Nov. 19, Artest
fouled Ben Wallace from behind on a drive to the basket. Wallace responded with
a hard, two-handed shove to Artest.
That sparked an initial skirmish, and Artest retreated to the scorer's table
while the referees restored calm. But then Artest was hit by the cup, and he
stormed into the stands, throwing punches as he climbed over seats.
Jackson joined Artest and threw punches at fans, who punched back. O'Neal and
Artest also hit fans who later came onto the court.
NBA commissioner David Stern suspended Artest for the rest of the season.
Jackson was banned for 30 games, O'Neal for 25, and other players received
shorter suspensions. The players' union is appealing the longer suspensions, and
a grievance hearing is scheduled for Thursday in New York.
The NBA had no comment other than to say it cooperated in the investigation
and did not plan further discipline.
Gorcyca said the players and fans are required to surrender to authorities
because arrest warrants were issued. He said some of the accused or their
attorneys contacted his office about doing so.
Bryant Jackson appeared briefly in court Wednesday afternoon to sign papers
related to the charges. He did not comment to reporters.
Some of the players said the case has become a distraction for the Pacers.
"Sitting on the phone with lawyers for an hour-and-a-half or two hours
basically every other day, that kind of gets frustrating," Johnson said. "You've
got to try to eliminate as much as possible, but it is definitely there and it
is definitely a focus each and every day.
"We kind of lost our heads a little bit collectively as a unit. It's
unfortunate because it's been played over and over and over again, and we're
shown in a bad light. ... If we could turn back the hands of time I'm pretty
sure we would handle it differently."
Jeff Foster added: "The whole thing has become such a circus. Something that
no team's ever dealt with before. Everybody's just trying to put it behind
themselves and just go on to playing basketball."
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