OT: Ben Wallace Cited for DUI, Weapon
From the AP:
Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace has been charged with drunken driving and unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon after a traffic stop, authorities in suburban Detroit say.
Bloomfield Township police said Thursday that the 37-year-old Wallace was arrested about 3 a.m. ET Saturday after officers observed a Cadillac Escalade being driven erratically. Police said they found an unloaded pistol in a backpack.
Not that there's any 'right place' to drink and drive but Bloomfield Township cues the Price is Right lose sound effect.
September 29th, 2011 at 6:03 PM ^
All the extra money he got when he left the Pistons. I'm still bitter about that.
September 29th, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
Hell, he wasn't even worth what the Pistons offered him, and that was 12 million dollars less.
September 29th, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
Why on earth would you be bitter about an athlete getting money from somebody else? It's not like it came out of your pocket. I would like to see if he was actually driving erratically or if he was just DWB.
September 29th, 2011 at 6:21 PM ^
I hate him. He came back to the Pistons. Now I'm only bitter.
September 29th, 2011 at 6:09 PM ^
Bloomfield has hanging judges who should be disbarred.
September 29th, 2011 at 6:18 PM ^
Cited for a DUI...I didn't realize he played for The University of Michigan.
September 29th, 2011 at 6:20 PM ^
His case was assigned to the same judge that had Jalen locked up for a few weeks. Fortunately for him, in the event he is sent to jail, the lockout will continue for the foreseeable future so there is minimal risk of losing playing time.
September 29th, 2011 at 6:27 PM ^
Unless he gets convicted and sentenced to jail time for the gun charge as well. That carries up to 5 years.
September 30th, 2011 at 6:57 AM ^
September 30th, 2011 at 9:24 AM ^
is a felony charge. it will be circuit court matter and not in front of Small, and given his lack of a criminal record, he will likely not face jail time if and when he is convicted of both offenses. If he was charged with only the DUI, he would do jail time, but given the good fortune of the felony charge, he will likely walk with probation. IRONY REIGNS!!
September 29th, 2011 at 6:32 PM ^
Why the need to carry a gun in Bloomfield?
Was he concerned about white collar criminals? Being carjacked by a businessman? Those surly fellows down at the yaht club giving him lip?
September 29th, 2011 at 10:27 PM ^
especially if well groomed
September 29th, 2011 at 10:45 PM ^
There are no "yaht" or yacht clubs in Bloomfield Township.
September 29th, 2011 at 11:27 PM ^
Sorry I misspelled yacht in my haste to make a joke. And yes, I negged you for stating there are no yacht clubs in Bloomfield Township, because the yacht club is in West Bloomfield Township (which I already knew). LOLOLOL at the difference, and for you caring enough to point out this minutiae and neg me for it.
September 30th, 2011 at 7:37 AM ^
Easy angry muffin, I did not neg you.
September 29th, 2011 at 6:42 PM ^
Really. Not much gangbangin' going down in Bloomfield lately.
September 29th, 2011 at 6:47 PM ^
Is it not legal to have an unloaded pistol in your car? So long as it is stored properly. Is in my state.
September 29th, 2011 at 7:01 PM ^
In Michigan, I believe you can transport an unloaded gun provided it is for a "lawful" purpose as defined by a rather lengthy piece of legislation.
September 29th, 2011 at 7:11 PM ^
It doesn't seem like it should be illegal to carry an unloaded gun in a backpack in your car, provided that the gun is legally registered/licensed. It's not like it was concealed in his pants when the cops rolled up on him. So I assume his (presumably well-paid) lawyers will manage to plead that charge down.
September 29th, 2011 at 7:29 PM ^
Its possible it was legal. If it wasn't locked the fact that he was under the influence of alcohol will complicate things. It doesn't really matter if it was loaded if it was accessible.
September 29th, 2011 at 7:34 PM ^
I don't think a backpack would be considered a proper carrying method (should be some type of pistol case), and according to this DetNews article, it was in the backseat, not in the cargo area (not supposed to be accessible).
From opinion of the attorney general (pp. 259-60) in http://legislature.mi.gov/documents/Publications/Firearms.pdf:
As previously noted, MCL 750.227(2) generally prohibits a person from carrying a concealed pistol in a motor vehicle unless that person is licensed to carry a concealed pistol. MCL 750.231a(1) contains several exceptions to the prohibition. Subsection (d) exempts a person “while transporting a pistol for a lawful purpose that is licensed by the owner or occupant of the motor vehicle in compliance with section 2 of 1927 PA 372, MCL 28.422, and the pistol is unloaded in a closed case designed for the storage of firearms in the trunk of the vehicle.”3 MCL 750.231a(1)(d). Subsection (e) applies to vehicles without trunks by requiring that the firearm not be readily accessible to the occupants of the vehicle. MCL 750.231a(1)(e).
September 29th, 2011 at 7:16 PM ^
This incident bumps Ben's contract up to maybe a distant fourth in the Pistons' amnesty wish list.
September 29th, 2011 at 7:20 PM ^
I enjoyed that column on Grantland, gave me quite a laugh. +1 to you for that, sir.
September 29th, 2011 at 7:20 PM ^
So instead of being locked out he was locked up? ??? HEY O zing....Ill be here all week ....
September 29th, 2011 at 7:21 PM ^
The most important detail was left out. Fro or cornrows?
September 29th, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^
I dunno the fact that he couldn't get the #3 back from Stuckey is all I needed to know about Big Ben...
September 29th, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
Made a deal that if he made two free throws, they'd let him off this time. You know the rest.
September 29th, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^
Actually, he might have a better chance of making them while drunk.
September 29th, 2011 at 8:43 PM ^
My friend, maybe so.
September 29th, 2011 at 9:26 PM ^
This guy should have retired a few years ago, if not sooner. I laughed when he went to the Bulls for more $$ and then they realized he sucked. Cue the lockout ending and his quick release from the Pistons.
September 29th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^
I feel like Ben Wallace is changing the tide on the rivalry against Judge Kimberly Small.
September 30th, 2011 at 12:08 AM ^
ben can "rebound" from this.