Heat’s Posey arrested on drunken driving charge in Miami Beach

 

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) -Miami Heat forward James Posey was arrested early Monday on a drunken driving charge after an officer pulled him over for stopping in the middle of a road.
Posey had stopped his car on a double-lane Miami Beach road, talking to occupants of other vehicles and pedestrians, police said.
Once out of the car, Posey displayed “bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath,” the police report said. The player also was unsteady on his feet and swayed while standing, police said.
Posey was arrested and taken to Miami-Dade County jail. He was later released on $1,000 bond.
Posey was not with the team for practice Monday and it was unknown whether he will fly with the team to Charlotte for its game Tuesday. Heat coach Pat Riley said after practice that the team will wait to collect “all the facts” before making any decisions on Posey’s status.
When Miami plays at Charlotte, it will be without center Shaquille O’Neal, who has been excused to attend the funeral for his paternal grandfather.
O’Neal said he hopes to be back with the Heat when they host Washington on Wednesday.
Posey, in the final year of his contract, is making about $6.4 million this season with the defending champion Heat.
It was the second DUI arrest involving a Heat player in Miami Beach this season. Rookie Robert Hite was charged in January, but that was later dropped when tests showed Hite’s blood alcohol level well within legal limits.
The Heat decided after the arrest Hite should take some time away from the team, and ultimately released him. He is playing in South Dakota with an NBA Development League club.