Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Home › News › Local News

Friend of Nugget Anthony ticketed in fight with fan

Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 7, 2007 at midnight

Text size  

More Local News

More stories »

Denver police ticketed a 30- year-old friend of Carmelo Anthony's after the man allegedly punched an unruly fan at a convenience store last month.

Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson confirmed Friday that the Nuggets forward and his friend Rahchine Craig, of New York, were heading out of a 7-Eleven store in the 1800 block of South Sheridan Boulevard early March 18 when some young men approached.

One of them, Brandon James Herrera, asked for Anthony's autograph, but Craig said, "No," a police report stated.

"The victim told Carmelo he is a 'punk' and began a verbal argument with the suspect," the report stated. Craig followed 19-year-old Herrera, of Denver, into the convenience store and "punched, pushed and slammed the victim onto the floor," the report said.

Herrera, who could not be reached for comment, filed a police report at a nearby precinct but did not seek medical attention, Jackson said.

Craig was cited with simple assault, a misdemeanor, Jackson said. No charges were filed against Anthony.

When asked Friday night if the report was accurate, Anthony said, "No, man. Hell no. We beat Dallas tonight. I'm not talking about that. We beat Dallas tonight. That's all I'm worried about. We've got Clippers tomorrow. Thanks."

The Nuggets player has a history of friends who get into legal trouble. In July 2006, his childhood friend Tyler Smith was arrested during a traffic stop while driving a car registered to Anthony's company, Melo Enterprises. A Lochbuie police officer found less than 1 ounce of marijuana in the 2005 Dodge Magnum, but there was nothing to suggest the pot belonged to Anthony.

Anthony was issued a summons for possessing less than 1 ounce of marijuana Oct. 15, 2004, at Denver International Airport. A friend later came forward and said the pot belonged to him, and the district attorney's office did not file charges against Anthony.

Also in 2004, Anthony was involved in a nightclub scuffle in New York and appeared as an apparently unwitting participant in a DVD that advocated killing police informants.

Paul Willis contributed to this report