Kareem Abdul Jabbar Arrested for DUI

San Fernando Valley – On Tuesday, July 19, 2000, at approximately 7:15 PM, Valley Traffic Motorcycle Traffic Enforcement Officers were monitoring traffic speed along Roscoe Boulevard and Encino Avenue. The officers obtained a radar speed of a vehicle travelling 52 Mile Per Hour (MPH) on a 35 MPH zone and proceeded to stop the car for a citation at Roscoe Boulevard and White Oak Street.

Upon approaching the vehicle the officers recognized the driver, who was the lone occupant, to be Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The officers smelled a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the open window. The officers administered a Field Sobriety Test on Mr. Jabbar, who failed to perform satisfactorily.

Mr. Jabbar was arrested for suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, without incident. He was transported to Van Nuys Jail Division where a breath test was performed to de-select alcohol as an intoxicant. A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) was called to evaluate Mr. Jabbar’s objective symptoms. After completing the evaluation, the DRE officer formed the opinion that Mr. Jabbar was under the influence of marijuana. Mr. Jabbar was booked for Misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence of Drugs at Van Nuys Jail.

Once the booking process was completed, Mr. Jabbar was released on his own recognizance at 9:15 PM. Throughout this incident, Mr. Jabbar was very cooperative with the officers.

Misdemeanor DUI cases are submitted to the City Attorney’s Office for Filing Consideration.

This Press Release was prepared by Officer Funes, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.