Ex-NBA player Javaris Crittenton released from jail after speeding charge

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By Christopher Seward

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Former NBA player and Georgia Tech star Javaris Crittenton was released from the Clayton County jail Wednesday on $1,500 bond after being arrested on speeding and obstruction charges, according to jail records.

Clayton County Sheriff's Office Javaris Crittenton

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This is the latest in the troubles of a star athlete already out of jail on bond for a pending murder trial.

It is unclear how this recent infraction will impact his release on the murder charges.

Crittenton was driving a "fairly new" black Porsche more than 60 mph in a 45 mph zone when he was pulled over on Ga. 85, Riverdale police spokesman Maj. Greg Barney told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Not only did the former Los Angeles Lakers player refuse to sign the speeding ticket, he also refused to get out of his Porsche when the officer ordered him to do so, Barney said.

"He just failed to cooperate altogether with the officer and wanted to be argumentative with the officer," Barney said.

Efforts were being made to reach Crittenton's attorney for comment.

Crittenton was arrested and charged with speeding and obstruction of an officer, the spokesman said. He was taken to the Clayton County Jail, where he remained late Wednesday. Barney said he didn't know whether bond had been set.

It's the latest in a string of run-ins Crittenton has had with the law, the most serious of which occurred last summer.

The pro basketball player is accused of killing Jullian Jones, a 23-year-old Atlanta mother of four, on Aug. 19 after allegedly firing gunshots from a black SUV after he believed he saw someone who had robbed him of $55,000 in jewelry, police said.

Jones was walking with others near her Macon Drive home in southwest Atlanta around 10 p.m. Aug. 19 when she was shot, police said. The woman was struck in the leg and later died during surgery.

Two men walking with Jones fled but were not injured. Investigators believe one of those men was the intended target.

Crittenton, who has denied the charges, allegedly fled to Los Angeles, where he was arrested Aug. 30 at a southern California airport while waiting to board a flight back to Atlanta. After being returned to Atlanta, he was freed on $230,000 bond over the objections of prosecutors. No trial date has been set.

Defense attorney Brian Steel previously said the charges were based on faulty eyewitness testimony and that no physical evidence linked the player to the shooting.

Crittenton is a former AJC "Mr. Basketball" and high school star at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. The Tech standout was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft and was traded his rookie year to the Memphis Grizzlies.

While playing for the Washington Wizards, Crittenton was involved in a December 2009 locker room incident with then-teammate Gilbert Arenas in which the two pulled guns on each other.

On Jan. 25, 2010, Crittenton pleaded guilty and was given a year of probation on a misdemeanor gun possession charge. Two days later, Crittenton and Arenas were suspended for the rest of the season.

Crittenton wasn't re-signed by the Wizards. The Charlotte Bobcats signed him to a non-guaranteed contract before last season, but he was waived Oct. 15. He has joined the NBA Development League's Dakota Wizards.

-- Staff writers Marcus K. Garner and Alexis Stevens and The Associated Press contributed to this report.