By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Samardo Samuels was arrested in Milan on Saturday night, according to local Italian outlet Il Giorno.
The 36-year-old Jamaican was allegedly playing extremely loud music and drinking alcohol in the courtyard of a residential building, alongside a Cane Corso dog. A family, fearing for their safety, called the authorities, and he was eventually apprehended by the Carabinieri.
“I’m a champion. I’m not a criminal,” he shouted while struggling to follow the directions of the authorities, as noted.
The incident reportedly marked the fifth police intervention due to his behavior over recent weeks.
Following further investigation, an ongoing case for stalking and violating a restraining order involving the father of the family was confirmed. Additional complaints include several past altercations with residents and even an assault on a delivery worker.
A court date was reportedly scheduled for Monday.
Samuels currently lives in Milan.
A veteran of 109 NBA games and 74 appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, he is a former player of the Cleveland Cavaliers, besides splitting his experience in Europe’s premier club continental competition between EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and FC Barcelona Lassa. In 2014, he was crowned champion in the Serie A Beko and won the Supercopa Endesa in 2015.
Additional overseas experience ranges from France, Greece, Kosovo, and Serbia to Israel, China, Lebanon, Mexico, South Korea, and Venezuela.
At the international level, he represented Jamaica in the 2009 CBC Championship and won gold before more caps in the 2012 Centrobasket and 2013 FIBA Americas.