Ty Lawson was arrested for shoplifting at a store in Castle Rock, Colorado, on July 16, and the former NBA guard was reportedly intoxicated during the incident.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX31, Lawson allegedly stole a bottle of Tito’s vodka before leaving the store to go to a nearby restaurant. The shop owner also revealed she witnessed Lawson stumbling and believed he was intoxicated.
“When officers arrived, they arrested the man, later identified as Tywon Lawson. Lawson faces a charge of theft less than $300, shoplifting. During the incident, Lawson’s friend, who was holding the Tito’s bottle, was also detained, but later released after officers determined he had no role in the shoplifting. The arresting officer noted that Lawson emanated the smell of an unknown alcoholic substance,” Spencer Kristensen of FOX31 reported.
Lawson was booked into the Douglas County Jail for the incident. Since his theft was for less than $3,000, the former Denver Nuggets star will likely face a minor penalty. However, given his past, this is still a bad look for the 38-year-old.
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Ty Lawson’s struggles with alcohol have been well-documented
Ty Lawson’s troubles with alcohol date back to 2008, when he pleaded guilty to underage drinking and driving in Orange County, North Carolina – a few months before winning the NCAA championship in 2009.
Lawson was drafted 18th overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2009 and became a core member of the team before bouncing around in the NBA, playing for the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Wizards before playing in China, Greece, Tunisia, and Venezuela.
He had faced two DUI charges, which were a factor in the Nuggets trading him to the Rockets in 2015. Lawson was also banned for life from the Chinese Basketball Association in 2020 after posting NSFW Instagram stories while in a club with a derogatory message about Chinese women.