Paul Pierce Arrested on Suspicion of DUI After Being Found Asleep at the Wheel
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Former NBA star, Paul Pierce, was arrested in Los Angeles late Tuesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence by the California Highway Patrol officers. The basketball Hall of Famer, aged 47, was discovered “asleep at the wheel” on U.S. Highway 101, according to a spokesperson speaking to PEOPLE.
At approximately 10:38 p.m. on October 7, CHP officers responded to a multi-vehicle collision on northbound US-101, just south of Lankershim Boulevard. During their investigation of the crash, officers observed a Range Rover SUV stopped in traffic lanes beyond the accident site. As they approached the vehicle, they found the driver, later identified as Paul Pierce, asleep behind the wheel.
The officers detected signs of alcohol impairment and proceeded to conduct a DUI investigation, resulting in Pierce’s arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was then booked at the Central Los Angeles Area office. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office for further review, as stated by the CHP spokesperson.
Although PEOPLE reached out for a comment from Pierce’s representative on Thursday, there has been no immediate response. Despite the arrest, Pierce has yet to address the situation publicly. Instead, he shared a video on his Instagram Stories, showcasing him playing basketball at a gym.
Paul Pierce, a native of Oakland, California, had a successful basketball career spanning 19 seasons in the NBA. Notably, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. Pierce, initially drafted by the Boston Celtics as the No. 10 overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, spent the majority of his career with the Celtics. During his time with the team, he clinched an NBA championship in 2008 and was named the NBA Finals MVP.
Following his tenure with the Celtics, Pierce went on to play for the Brooklyn Nets and the Washington Wizards before concluding his career with the Los Angeles Clippers. After retiring from the NBA in 2017, he transitioned to an analyst role at ESPN. However, Pierce’s time at the network came to an end in 2021 following the controversy surrounding a social media video. He has since moved on to work with Fox Sports, hosting The Truth After Dark podcast on YouTube, after his show “Speak” was cancelled in July.
Despite the recent setback, Pierce remains a prominent figure in the basketball world, navigating both triumphs and challenges post-retirement. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving story.