Dee Brown

Brown was in Italy last year, where this happened. In addition that, Brown averaged 14.8 points and 5.2 assists per game, with the assists per game total leading the league. However, Brown also shot more three pointers than two's, and hit them at only 32%. Therein lies Dee's problem, the thing that has kept him on the cusp of the NBA these last four years without ever sticking in it; he's no half court point guard, nor can he create for himself in the halfcourt, and nor can he hit most open jumpers. Dee's very, very good at the things he does well, namely the open court game. But until an extra 10-15% appears on that three point percentage, he'll stay on the fringe.

This website carried the news of Dee Brown being arrested in Italy a few days ago, charged with assaulting a police officer.

View Dee's response to the allegation on his blog.

Also note that it was Chevon Troutman who was charged with DUI, not Brown. This was not clear at the time of the initial post.

You rarely hear about arrests of import players in Europe; they either don't happen as much, or don't get reported as much. But here's one. Two, even.

Former Illinois, Jazz and Suns guard Dee Brown was arrested in Italy, along with former Pittsburgh forward Chevon Troutman, after one of the two caused a head-on collision while driving under the influence.

http://www.gazzetta.it/Sport_Vari/Basket/Italia/07-05-2010/arrestati-brown-troutman-avellino-603897178776.shtml

Prima causano un incidente stradale e poi aggrediscono i carabinieri che erano intervenuti sul posto. È accaduto a Bacoli, centro balneare in provincia di Napoli, dove sono stati arrestati due giocatori professionisti di basket dell’Avellino: Dee Brown, 25 anni e Chevon Troutman, 28 anni, entrambi americani ma domiciliati in Italia sono stati arrestati per resistenza e violenza a pubblico ufficiale. I due cestisti erano in transito su via Cuma a bordo di una Mercedes classe E quando hanno invaso la corsia dell’opposto senso di marcia scontrandosi frontalmente con una Fiat Punto guidata da un cinquantenne di Bacoli e occupata dal figlio diciottenne. Dopo il violento impatto i due sono stati soccorsi e trasportati presso l’ospedale di Pozzuoli dove sono stati diagnosticati diversi traumi e escoriazioni giudicate guaribili in 20 giorni. Nelle fasi di rilevazioni del sinistro i due americani, alla richiesta di esibire i documenti, si sono scagliati contro i militari dell’Arma con calci e spintoni. Dopo una breve colluttazione durante la quale un appuntato ha riportato escoriazioni ad una gamba, sono stati fermati. In seguito è stato appurato che il conducente della Mercedes al momento dell’incidente aveva un tasso alcolemico notevolmente superiore ai limiti consentiti dalla legge e per questo motivo è stato denunciato anche per guida in stato di ebrezza. I due arrestati sono stati portati dinanzi al Tribunale di Napoli per la celebrazione del processo con rito direttissimo.

Run through Google translate, that comes out as this:

Before causing a traffic accident and then attack the police who had intervened on the spot. It happened in Bacoli, beach resort in the province of Naples, where they were arrested two professional basketball players dell'Avellino: Dee Brown, 25 years and Chevon Troutman, 28, both Americans, but resident in Italy were arrested for violence and resistance a public official. The two players were in transit via Cumae in a Mercedes E class when they invaded the lane opposite direction collided head on with a Fiat Punto driven by a fifty-year-Bacoli and occupied by his son eighteen. After the violent impact of the two were rescued and transported to the hospital where the Pozzuoli were diagnosed several injuries and bruises considered curable in 20 days. In the collection of left two Americans, when asked to produce the documents, were hurled against the soldiers of kicking and shoving. After a brief scuffle in which a corporal reported bruises to his leg, were arrested. Later it was found that the driver of the Mercedes when the accident had a blood alcohol level greatly exceeding the limits allowed by law and therefore was also reported for driving under the influence of alcohol. The two arrested were brought before the Court of Naples for the celebration of the ritual process Direttissimo.

Simplified, Troutman and Brown were out for a drive in an E class Mercedes. There, they were involved in a head-on collision with a Fiat Punto, injuring both of its passengers (fortunately with only minor injuries). When police arrived at the scene, Brown and Troutman allegedly kicked up a fuss and were arrested, assaulting the officer in the process.

The report does not indicate which of the two was driving the car, but indicates that both were arrested for resisting arrest. Specifically, it says that the pair kicked the legs of the arresting officer. That does not seem like a good idea.

Air Avellino are currently in the 8th and final Serie A playoff spot, one game ahead of Benetton Treviso with only two games remaining. Brown and Troutman are arguably the team's two best players; Dee leads the team with averages of 14.8 points (1oth in the league) and 5.4 assists per game (1st); Troutman is second on the team in scoring with 13.3 ppg, and leads the team in reboundign at 8.3rpg (3rd in the league). Without the two, Avellino's playoff chances look slim. The timing could not have been worse, even if the accident could.

EDIT: Avellino played their penultimate game of the regular season today, and both Brown and Troutman played. Led by Brown, Avellino got an invaluable win. I guess their punishment can wait until such a time that it doesn't hurt the team.

- Dee Brown

Brown is in Italy and he's having a strong year. On the season he is averaging 18.0 points, 4.9 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 30.4 minutes per game, for an Air Avellino team with a 7-5 record. Avellino tried out someone called Jimmy Bartolotta this October, a graduate of MIT who play in NCAA's Divison 3. This isn't related to Dee Brown, really, but it would have made an interesting story had it worked out. I can't think of anyone else who went from Division 3 straight to SerieA. Very very very few go from Divison 3 to the NBA, either.