NBPA investigating arrest of Hawks' Thabo Sefolosha, Pero Antic
The National Basketball Players Association is investigating the arrest of Atlanta Hawks teammates Thabo Sefolosha and Pero Antic, a spokeswoman told ESPN.
ESPN reports that the details surrounding the arrest have "come under increasing scrutiny" by the NBPA and the Hawks in the last 24 hours. Sefolosha and Antic were arrested and charged with obstructing governmental administration for refusing to clear the area of the crime scene after Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland and a female companion were stabbed outside a New York City nightclub early Wednesday morning.
"The players union is concerned about the circumstances of Sefolosha and Antic's arrest and is doing its own investigation of the situation," NBPA spokeswoman Tara Greco said. "The union was fully engaged in supporting all three players in court and in the precinct this week, and will continue to stay engaged as each situation evolves."
• Pacers' Chris Copeland in 'stable condition'
Sefolosha sustained a fractured fibula during the incident, and he was also charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. ESPN reports that his fracture went untreated overnight and into Wednesday while he was in police custody, and that Hawks officials have privately begun to raise questions about the specific circumstances that led to that happening.
On Thursday, TMZ obtained video it says shows the arrest of Sefolosha and the player being grabbed in the back of the neck by a police officer before being brought down to the ground.
Sefolosha's defense attorney, Alex Spiro, told TMZ that the video "speaks for itself."
- Molly Geary
