Gun found under seat of Telfair's SUV
Associated Press
YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) - Boston Celtics guard Sebastian Telfair was arrested early Friday after police stopped him for speeding and found a loaded handgun under a seat in his SUV.
Telfair, 21, of Brooklyn was stopped at about 4 a.m. on the Bronx River Parkway in Yonkers, N.Y. after being clocked at 77 mph in a 45-mph zone in his Range Rover, Westchester County police spokesman Kieran O'Leary said.
Neither Telfair nor passenger Al Eden Fuentes had a valid driver's license, so Telfair's SUV was set for impoundment and searched by an officer, O'Leary said. The officer quickly noticed the butt of the handgun sticking out from under the passenger seat, O'Leary added.
Telfair and Queens resident Fuentes, 28, said they knew nothing about the gun, O'Leary said. Police still were investigating whether the gun was registered.
Telfair and Fuentes pleaded not guilty Friday at Yonkers City Court to charges including felony second-degree possession of a weapon, and bail was set at $7,500. The pair was due back in court May 17.
"The players on the Celtics have been explicitly warned, this year, to obey the team and league gun prohibition as well as state laws. We take this very seriously, and will act accordingly once the facts have been determined," Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said Friday night.
"We began the building process towards next year yesterday, and the last thing we want or will tolerate is a distraction along the way."
Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge declined to comment.
O'Leary said Telfair was polite and cooperative.
"Our officers said he behaved like a gentlemen," O'Leary said.
A clerk at the Yonkers court did not have the name of Telfair's attorney, and it could not be immediately determined who was representing him.
Telfair, the 13th pick in the 2004 NBA draft, was traded to the Celtics last year from Portland.
While Telfair was with Portland in February 2006, he was questioned after a handgun registered to his girlfriend was found in his pillowcase aboard the team's plane at Logan International Airport in Boston. The Trail Blazers later fined Telfair and suspended him for two days.
While Telfair was with Portland in February 2006, he was questioned after a handgun registered to his girlfriend was found in his pillowcase aboard the team's plane at Logan International Airport in Boston.
And of course this isn't his gun either. 😮
Celtics severing ties with Telfair
Associated Press
BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics are severing ties with guard
Sebastian Telfair days after he was arrested in the New York area
and charged with carrying a loaded gun in his car.
Team managing partner Wyc Grousbeck said Telfair, the 13th pick
in the 2004 draft and coming off a disappointing first season with
the Celtics, would not be back with the team.
Telfair pleaded not guilty to a charge of felony second-degree
possession of a weapon, and was released Friday on $7,500 bail.
"The facts and circumstances of his case have not been
determined, but he does not have a Celtics locker and we do not
anticipate that he will," Grousbeck said in an e-mail Tuesday. He
did not say how the team would handle the remaining season on
Telfair's contract.
Telfair's attorney, Ed Hayes, told The Associated Press the
Celtics are rushing to judgment.
"It always bothers me when you punish a guy so severely before
there's been a finding of fact. I think that's wrong whether it
happens in Durham (N.C) or in Boston," Hayes said, referring to
the Duke lacrosse rape case.
Hayes said Telfair supports 17 relatives on his NBA salary since
being drafted out of high school in Brooklyn, N.Y.
"He's come so far and done so well, I don't think you have to
throw him overboard," Hayes said.
The 21-year-old guard was arrested early Friday in Yonkers, N.Y.
Police said he was speeding and found a loaded handgun under a seat
in his SUV. Telfair did not have a valid license, and police said
he and his passenger told them they knew nothing of the gun.
Grousbeck said players had been explicitly warned to obey the
team and league gun prohibition, as well as state laws.
Hayes said the gun was registered to Telfair's girlfriend, who
he said was Telfair's common law wife, and that Telfair was
borrowing the SUV she normally uses.
While with Portland in February 2006, Telfair was questioned
after a handgun registered to his girlfriend was found in his
pillowcase aboard the team's plane at Hanscom Field in Bedford,
outside of Boston. The Trail Blazers later fined Telfair and
suspended him for two days.
Last October, police questioned Telfair about the shooting of
rapper Fabolous after a $50,000 necklace was stolen from Telfair at
the same club the night Fabolous was shot. Telfair said he wasn't
there at the time of the shooting.
The Celtics acquired Telfair from Portland last June 28 on the
day of the NBA draft. As part of the five-player deal, Portland
received Randy Foye of Villanova, whom the Celtics had taken with
the No. 7 pick.
Boston hoped Telfair would become its regular point guard, but
he struggled and started just 30 of the 78 games he played. He
averaged 20.2 minutes, 6.1 points and 2.8 assists per game.
Hayes said Telfair supports 17 relatives on his NBA salary since
being drafted out of high school in Brooklyn, N.Y.
😮