While the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office decides whether to charge Latrell Sprewell with a crime for allegedly choking a woman during consensual sex on his yacht earlier this week, we decided to look back at some other memorable run-ins between athletes and law enforcement officials in our area.
If we've forgotten any other notable cases, use the Talkback feature to let us know.
Luis Polonia -- The Yankees utility man was arrested Aug. 16, 1989, for having sex with a 15-year-old girl at The Pfister Hotel. He was convicted and ended up spending 60 days in jail following that season, a stay that was interrupted when his visa expired.
Reggie Jackson -- In 1986, the California Angels star scuffled with an autograph hound at Major Goolsby's. Donald Weimer of Racine apparently got Jackson's autograph, then tore it to pieces and tossed it onto a table. Jackson grabbed Weimer, who hit his head on a table and received bruises to his forehead and a cut on his chin that required stitches. A disorderly conduct charge against Jackson was dismissed.
Mark Chmura -- In April 2000, the Packers tight end was arrested at a Waukesha Catholic Memorial post-prom party and charged with third-degree sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl who used to be his babysitter. Chmura was acquitted of the charges.
James Lofton -- In December 1986, the Packers wide receiver charged with second-degree sexual assault after an incident the stairwell of a Green Bay nightclub. He was found not guilty the following spring. It was the second sexual incident for Lofton, who was not charged after a Milwaukee exotic dancer alleged that he and teammate Eddie Lee Ivery assaulted her at The Marquee nightclub.
Eddie Lee Ivery - He wasn't charged in the incident with Lofton, but Ivery had to serve a 10-day sentence in 1984 for driving with a revoked license. Under a state work-release law, he was allowed to leave jail for practice and games.
Mossy Cade -- A day after Lofton's acquittal, Cade was found guilty on two counts of second-degree sexual assault for an incident that took place at his home in November 1985. Cade assaulted a woman -- related to him by marriage -- who was an overnight guest at his De Pere home and ended up serving one year and three months of a two-year sentence. He was released in 1988.
Brian Shackelford -- The Cincinnati Reds reliever was arrested on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault when a woman he met on Match.com claimed that he assaulted her after some consensual contact. The District Attorney's Office decided not to press charges in the matter, but Shackelford was demoted to the minor leagues and ridiculed for using the Internet to score with babes.
Charles Barkley -- The controversial Philadelphia 76ers star was arrested Dec. 22, 1991 for punching James McCarthy in the face outside of Rosie's Water Works on Water St. Barkley was acquitted of the assault charge by a jury the following June.
Mark Whiten -- Four days after his wife gave birth to his second child, Whiten was arrested and charged with second-degree sexual assault of a 31-year-old woman. Police did not issue charges, in part because the woman was deemed a bit "unstable."
John Jaha -- The Brewers first baseman was on the disabled list with a foot injury 1998 when he was arrested for driving drunk in Elm Grove. As part of his sentence, Jaha was ordered to speak to students about the dangers of drunken driving. At least one school district refused to let him speak, saying he was a bad role model. Jaha is of Lebanese descent, a heritage he shares with Candy Lightner, the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Tony Phillips -- While playing for the White Sox, Phillips got into a fight with heckler Chris Hovorka behind the left field bleachers. The incident took place in the seventh inning of a game. Phillips, who had started the game, was removed early, showered, changed into street clothes and confronted Hovorka, who had been making derogatory comments about Phillips' family from the stands. Phillips and Hovorka were each fined $287 for disorderly conduct.
Bobby Simmons -- On Oct. 2, 2005, the eve of his first training camp with his new team, Simmons was arrested complaints of misdemeanor fourth-degree sexual assault and misdemeanor battery after a woman said he fondled and punched her while sitting in his car outside a nightclub called Da Jungle. Simmons, who had signed a five-year, $47 million deal with the club, was not charged because the district attorney did not find sufficient evidence that he committed a crime.
Ahman Green -- The Packers running back has been involved in several domestic abuse incidents after arguments with his first wife, Shaylynn Vance, and second wife, Heather Green. The most recent game last April, when police responded to a 911 hangup, determined that a domestic violence incident had occurred and took Green into custody. Green was not charged in the case.
A handful of UW Badgers -- The downard spiral of former Wisconsin star Brent Moss has been well-documented. The Badgers also had a number of players arrested in the past year or so, including Booker Stanley (battery, second-degree sexual assault), Dwayne Smith (sex assault charges dropped), Marcus Randle El (battery), Joe Monty (DUI, reduced to reckless driving), P.J. Hill (civil citation for wielding a bat and screaming outside a dorm), Antonio Freeman and Jameson Davis (driving 100-mph in Jefferson County with marijuana in the car).
If we've forgotten any other notable cases, use the Talkback feature to let us know.
Luis Polonia -- The Yankees utility man was arrested Aug. 16, 1989, for having sex with a 15-year-old girl at The Pfister Hotel. He was convicted and ended up spending 60 days in jail following that season, a stay that was interrupted when his visa expired.
Reggie Jackson -- In 1986, the California Angels star scuffled with an autograph hound at Major Goolsby's. Donald Weimer of Racine apparently got Jackson's autograph, then tore it to pieces and tossed it onto a table. Jackson grabbed Weimer, who hit his head on a table and received bruises to his forehead and a cut on his chin that required stitches. A disorderly conduct charge against Jackson was dismissed.
Mark Chmura -- In April 2000, the Packers tight end was arrested at a Waukesha Catholic Memorial post-prom party and charged with third-degree sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl who used to be his babysitter. Chmura was acquitted of the charges.
James Lofton -- In December 1986, the Packers wide receiver charged with second-degree sexual assault after an incident the stairwell of a Green Bay nightclub. He was found not guilty the following spring. It was the second sexual incident for Lofton, who was not charged after a Milwaukee exotic dancer alleged that he and teammate Eddie Lee Ivery assaulted her at The Marquee nightclub.
Eddie Lee Ivery - He wasn't charged in the incident with Lofton, but Ivery had to serve a 10-day sentence in 1984 for driving with a revoked license. Under a state work-release law, he was allowed to leave jail for practice and games.
Mossy Cade -- A day after Lofton's acquittal, Cade was found guilty on two counts of second-degree sexual assault for an incident that took place at his home in November 1985. Cade assaulted a woman -- related to him by marriage -- who was an overnight guest at his De Pere home and ended up serving one year and three months of a two-year sentence. He was released in 1988.
Brian Shackelford -- The Cincinnati Reds reliever was arrested on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault when a woman he met on Match.com claimed that he assaulted her after some consensual contact. The District Attorney's Office decided not to press charges in the matter, but Shackelford was demoted to the minor leagues and ridiculed for using the Internet to score with babes.
Charles Barkley -- The controversial Philadelphia 76ers star was arrested Dec. 22, 1991 for punching James McCarthy in the face outside of Rosie's Water Works on Water St. Barkley was acquitted of the assault charge by a jury the following June.
Mark Whiten -- Four days after his wife gave birth to his second child, Whiten was arrested and charged with second-degree sexual assault of a 31-year-old woman. Police did not issue charges, in part because the woman was deemed a bit "unstable."
John Jaha -- The Brewers first baseman was on the disabled list with a foot injury 1998 when he was arrested for driving drunk in Elm Grove. As part of his sentence, Jaha was ordered to speak to students about the dangers of drunken driving. At least one school district refused to let him speak, saying he was a bad role model. Jaha is of Lebanese descent, a heritage he shares with Candy Lightner, the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Tony Phillips -- While playing for the White Sox, Phillips got into a fight with heckler Chris Hovorka behind the left field bleachers. The incident took place in the seventh inning of a game. Phillips, who had started the game, was removed early, showered, changed into street clothes and confronted Hovorka, who had been making derogatory comments about Phillips' family from the stands. Phillips and Hovorka were each fined $287 for disorderly conduct.
Bobby Simmons -- On Oct. 2, 2005, the eve of his first training camp with his new team, Simmons was arrested complaints of misdemeanor fourth-degree sexual assault and misdemeanor battery after a woman said he fondled and punched her while sitting in his car outside a nightclub called Da Jungle. Simmons, who had signed a five-year, $47 million deal with the club, was not charged because the district attorney did not find sufficient evidence that he committed a crime.
Ahman Green -- The Packers running back has been involved in several domestic abuse incidents after arguments with his first wife, Shaylynn Vance, and second wife, Heather Green. The most recent game last April, when police responded to a 911 hangup, determined that a domestic violence incident had occurred and took Green into custody. Green was not charged in the case.
A handful of UW Badgers -- The downard spiral of former Wisconsin star Brent Moss has been well-documented. The Badgers also had a number of players arrested in the past year or so, including Booker Stanley (battery, second-degree sexual assault), Dwayne Smith (sex assault charges dropped), Marcus Randle El (battery), Joe Monty (DUI, reduced to reckless driving), P.J. Hill (civil citation for wielding a bat and screaming outside a dorm), Antonio Freeman and Jameson Davis (driving 100-mph in Jefferson County with marijuana in the car).
