Posted on Fri, Oct. 23, 2009
Dionte Christmas, the former Temple basketball star whom the 76ers cut from their roster Wednesday, was arrested in North Philadelphia last night, police officials told the Daily News.
Christmas was stopped by Highway Patrol Officers Dave Marcellino and Ivan Rosado on Nedro Avenue near Broad Street about 7:30 p.m. for driving erratically in a car with heavily tinted windows, said Highway Patrol Capt. Michael Cochrane.
Christmas was driving without a license, and the officers found a Hi-Point 9mm semiautomatic handgun under the driver's seat, Cochrane said. The weapon was loaded with seven rounds.
Christmas was taken to the 35th District's headquarters, at Broad Street and Champlost Avenue in Ogontz, where he was expected to be charged with a felony weapons offense, police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said.
Police later learned that the car Christmas had been driving belonged to Sixer forward/center Marreese Speights, Cochrane said. The 9mm apparently also was registered to Speights, he said.
Christmas had a passenger in the car who was not identified. Michael Preston, a 76ers spokesman, said the team had no comment. Christmas' agent, Andre Buck, could not be reached for comment, nor could Speights' agent, Andy Miller.
Christmas, a Philadelphia native who starred at Temple after playing at Fels High and Philadelphia Lutheran Christian, was invited to the Sixers' camp after he went undrafted in the June NBA draft. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard played in four preseason games, averaging 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per outing.
Staff writer Phil Jasner contributed to this report.
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