Pro Basketball Player Found Slumping In Running Car: Prosecutor

OAK LAWN, IL -- An Oak Lawn man who claims to be a professional basketball player for the American Basketball Association was arrested when police found him slumped in his car in traffic, prosecutors said. Reginald Jackson, 22, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. He was also being held on a warrant for not completing community service for attempted resistance of arrest.

Around 3:10 a.m. on Dec. 21, Oak Lawn police found Jackson slumped in his car in traffic near 107th Street and Central Avenue, the prosecutor said. Jackson allegedly told officers that he had taken Alprazolam. When officers searched his car, the prosecutor said police found a prescription bottle for the medication with Jackson’s name on it. Inside the prescription bottle officers found Alprazolam and MDA, also known as ecstasy, according to the charges.

The assistant public defender told the judge that until recently Jackson was a professional basketball player for the Chicago Steam, and was paid around $500 a game. He hasn’t been able to play lately because he is being treated for various psychiatric issues, requiring a prescription for Alprazolam. Jackson is also a graduate of Richards High School in Oak Lawn.

Jackson was released on a $10,000 I-bond. The judge also ordered electronic home monitoring and random drug testing while his case is pending. Jackson’s next court date is Jan. 10 in Bridgeview.

File photo by Patch Editor Lorraine Swanson