Former NBA player Paul Pierce was arrested Tuesday night in Los Angeles on suspicion of driving under the influence after California Highway Patrol officers found him asleep behind the wheel of a Range Rover SUV. The incident occurred around 10:40 p.m. on U.S. Highway 101, where officers were already responding to a separate multi-vehicle crash and had closed four out of six northbound lanes.
According to a press release from the California Highway Patrol, after reopening the lanes about an hour later, officers noticed Pierce’s vehicle stopped in the road south of the crash scene. Officers approached and observed that Pierce was asleep at the wheel and “noticed signs of alcohol impairment” before conducting a DUI investigation.
Pierce was subsequently arrested on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. The case will be reviewed by the Los Angeles city attorney.
Attempts to reach Pierce for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not immediately respond to messages and further contact information could not be located.
Pierce played 15 seasons with the Boston Celtics and ended his career with the LA Clippers in 2017. He also played for the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards during his time in the NBA. Pierce is a 10-time All-Star, MVP of the 2008 NBA Finals, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
