Gilbert Arenas Arrested by LAPD for Alleged Possession of Illegal Fireworks

Gilbert Arenas appears to be back in trouble with the law again, this time for alleged possession of another dangerous material. 

According to TMZ, the former Orlando Magic guard was pulled over by Los Angeles police around 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning for speeding. Arenas was traveling in a Ford pickup truck and authorities quickly noticed a large cache of fireworks sitting in the bed and cab of the vehicle. 

Arenas was arrested at the scene for speeding, driving without a license and possession of “illegal fireworks.” He was allegedly driving 80 mph when he was pulled over by police.

It’s unclear exactly how many fireworks Arenas had on hand, but the amount was significant enough to warrant calling in the LAPD bomb squad for removal. According to TMZ, their source counted 20 boxes being hauled off by authorities.

Illegal possession of fireworks is one of the last things Arenas needs in his life right now, considering the former NBA star’s previous weapons charges. While playing for the Washington Wizards in 2010, Arenas was charged with felony gun possession after bringing a pistol into the locker room.

Arenas was found guilty but avoided jail time for the charges, and the incident was one of the contributing reasons the Magic waived him in 2011 despite the fact $62 million in guaranteed money remained on his contract. 

Will Arenas go to jail for this incident? It’s unlikely, but certainly not impossible. 

According to the Orlando Sentinel, breaking California firework laws typically ends up in misdemeanor charges punishable by a $1,000 maximum fine. Possessing “large quantities of dangerous fireworks,” however, is a felony punishable by up to three years in the California state prison.

We’ll see how this situation unfolds, but Arenas’ current employers, the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association, cannot be happy campers right now.