Former NBA player Dennis Rodman was arrested for driving under the influence in California on Saturday night, according to the Newport Beach Police Department.
Lieutenant Rachel Johnson told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday that Rodman was stopped near 4500 West Coast Highway on Saturday night because of unspecified vehicle code violations. A subsequent investigation led to his arrest for DUI.
Johnson said Rodman was cooperative and agreed to take a breathalyzer test on the scene, the results of which were not immediately available. Rodman was then arrested, booked at Newport Beach Jail and released about seven hours later, Johnson said.
“It’s no secret Dennis has been struggling on and off with alcoholism the past 17 years,” Rodman’s agent, Darren Prince, told USA TODAY Sports in a statement. “He’s been dealing with some very personal issues the past month and we’re going to get him the help he needs now.
“I’ve been his agent for 20 plus years and we’re more like brothers. He’s an amazing guy sober and deserves to find that happy place in his life with all he did to make his millions of fans happy during his NBA career. This is his chance to rebound in life so we ask for prayers and support from everyone.”
Prince later added that he, too, has dealt with addiction issues and has been in recovery for nearly a decade now.
“Dennis often tells me how much I changed for the better so I’m hoping to give him the same gift I’ve been given,” Prince wrote in an e-mail.
Rodman, 56, played 14 seasons in the NBA from 1986 through 2000, averaging 7.3 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. He won five NBA championships in his career, including three with the Chicago Bulls while playing alongside Michael Jordan, and was a seven-time all-defensive first-team selection.
Since retiring, Rodman has continued to make headlines for his friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. As recently as last month, he publicly urged president Donald Trump to send him to North Korea in an attempt to lead peace talks.
“I’ve been trying to tell Donald since day one: ‘Come talk to me, man. … I’ll tell you what the Marshal wants more than anything,’ ” Rodman said.
Rodman was also arrested for DUI in 1999 and 2003. It is immediately unclear when he will be due to appear in court.
“Dennis is taking this seriously, and will take positive steps to address his personal issues,” Rodman’s attorney, Paul S. Meyer, told USA TODAY Sports in a statement. “He appreciates the professionalism of the Newport Beach Police Department.”
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