TBO.com > News > Latest News Reports
- Send Your Wishes To The New Administration
- Moffitt Among Quarterfinalists For Lott Award
- Two Women Thrown From Boat When It Hits I-75 Bridge
- Judge Imposes Stay On Lethal Injections
- Poll: More Coastal Residents Would Not Evacuate For Hurricane
- Robbers In Ninja Garb Strike Hampton Inn
- Deputy Is Accused Of Domestic Battery
- 2 Men Burst Into Home, Steal More Than $7,000
- Temple Terrace Man Wounded In Shooting
- Polk Deputies Charge 17 Men After Weekend Cockfight
- Baby Dropped Off At Fire Station
- Jury Awards $21.1 Million In Wrongful Birth Case
- Deputies Investigate Bank Robbery
- Grandpa Robbed; Grandson Charged
- Composite Sketch Of Armed Carjacker Released
By Howard Altman
The Tampa Tribune
Elijah Dukes, the Devil Rays’ oft-troubled outfield prospect, is back in hot water.
The 22-year-old switch hitter was arrested by Tampa Police Monday on a marijuana possession charge after his 2006 Dodge Charger was stopped at 21st Avenue and 29th St. N. for a loud music violation, according to Tampa Police.
As police approached the car, they said “a distinct odor of marijuana was emitting from the interior of the vehicle.”
A search of the car uncovered less than two grams of marijuana located in the center console, according to police.
Dukes, who lives in Brandon, and his passenger, Willie Evans, 23, of Tampa, were released on their own recognizance.
Dukes, a third-round pick in the 2002 draft out of Hillsborough High who was suspended five times for various confrontations with teammates and coaches, underwent knee surgery in November, but is expected to be ready for spring training.
This is at least the fifth time Dukes has been arrested since 2003.
All have been misdemeanors. According to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office records, the most recent incident prior to Monday’s arrest came in September 2005 when Dukes was charged with operating an unregistered vehicle.
Dukes was added to the Rays’ 40-man roster last November. The career outfielder did some work at first base in the Arizona Fall League and is expected to be in contention for a bench spot this spring.
Tribune staff writer Marc Lancaster contributed to this report. Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com
One final point; my guess is that the “friend” he was with has probably had his own issues with the law in the past. At this level in his life, Dukes need to make better choices and play by the not just some of the rules, but ALL of the rules.
Mr. Menendez; I’m confused; you say that “anyone that calls someone an idiot is one themselves.” Does that mean that now you’re any idiot as well? Relax man, the bottom line is that Dukes broke the law, regardless of how trivial it seems. According to reports, he was somewhat cavalier about being stopped too. He suggested, just as some have in this forum, that it’s just a little pot. Perhaps the law is trivial, but a little pot is still illegal and he had a little pot. Of course I have the guts to share my opinion with others to their face, provided they not be so combative. After all, this is an open discussion to share spirited opinions about news worthy topics. I still have to go back to the main point; he broke laws. So regardless of who he is or what he and others think, he broke laws.
This country is falling like the Roman Empire due to many reasons, but one is the people who constantly defy or defend the moralistic drop in values of others so that a new baseline is always being tested. Soon, we won’t be able to drop any lower and we’ll be in the basement.
And why must Mr. Menendez be so defensive and threatening? This board is meant for lively discussions and if you don’t like it dont read it. You don’t know if anybody on this board has the guts to tell it to your face or somebody else’s or not, do you?
Good day.
Wow, I agree this conversation is wrong on so many levels. The point is that marijuana has been determined to be an illegal drug.
If marijuana is legalized then this is a moot discussion. However, my point was that we shouldn’t pick and choose which laws we want to recognize and others that we don’t depending on our own opinion. Everybody’s idea of what is acceptable would be up and down the chart. Is marijuana a relatively minor offense? In my mind it is but it is currently against the law. According to live and let live standard, the crack dealer is not hurting anybody either and neither is the child pornographer because they are only viewing images.
Wow. This is wrong on so many levels.
Those of you who’d persecute Mr. Dukes simply because he broke the law ignore the many outdated laws that are still active.
Those of you who oppose legalization or decriminalization of marijuana wish to impose your values on others. If you don’t like it, don’t smoke it - the “potheads” won’t force you.
One of you tried to make a “gateway drug” argument - roughly pot will lead to other, harder drugs. I challenge you to support that with facts.
Next, consider prohibition. It’s very similar. It didn’t last long, either.
Live and let live (so long as you don’t harm others). This is the overarching point.
Kumbaya.
Why was there not a DUI arrest in the case? They found drugs in the car, he was driving, his car smelled like he had been smoking.
Thank you well spoken citizens! It’s nice to know that our community has not lost it’s morals and sense of good thought.
The the Tribune; please forward this to the Devil Rays.
Bottom line is he broke the law and has doen so numerous times. He is a perfect example of what MLB DOESN’T need. And for the record “Dr.” Richardson you sir are an idiot.
Headline: Rays’ Dukes Arrested. A local athlete has a run-in with the law,and this is news? Note to the Devil Rays: do NOT trade Crawford or Baldelli. Depending on Dukes, Young or Upton to grow up and come through will break your heart every time.
my mistake, Richard Johnson
Once again this post has allowed people to use this forum for insults. Jay Roberto anyone who calls someone an idiot is one themselves. John Richardson
your no Einstein either and niether of you has a right to insult someone because you dont like their opinion. You both need to get a life., I bet you dont have the guts to talk to people like that to thier face.
The Doctor only expressed his view on the current laws regarding pot. Since the news has reported that pot is the third largest cash crop here in Florida
somebody has to be using it and it’s not just the poor and uneducated. If you stop and think for a moment that all the grocery store 18 wheelers moving around to supply food to us still do not equal the pot moving around to supply the users in the state then that IS a problem. We collect taxes on evrything but illegal trade and spend billbions to police it. Legalize it, tax it and admit society cannot control a product that makes drug dealers busier than a supermarket distribution center.
We live by rules for a reason. First smoking pot is not that bad, then maybe a little cocaine is okay, from there it is on to crack and selling your soul for the next fix. Where does society draw the line.
PS. Shrooms also grow wild so I guess it’s okay to go use a mind altering drug while you represent a professional organization. Now it’s time for the Devil Rays organization to live up to that profession and sit him in Double A for the season or trade him for a couple of bats and a case of balls.
Just by looking at your grammar Kaplan I can tell you smoked the bone a little too much in school and it stunted your learning capacity.
Until it is outlawed we can not have thugs running around in our communities with impressionable youths thinking it is okay to disregard the laws. Just think of how many people Dukes comes in contact with in a day, week or month that his total disregard for the rules. Unfortunately, most of the rest of them don’t have his baseball salary to to fall back on. For each time he gets caught you can bet there has been dozens of times he has gotten away with it.
So what the guy off season wanted to smoke a bone, go after real criminals. Is stupid that pot is not legal is better than alcohol. Tax it and quit throwing people in jail its a WEED people.
Well there goes the little trade value Dukes had left. He has been in constant trouble since he was selected and no one is going to want to risk paying too much for a guy that is so immature. Instead of becoming somebody in the community to be proud of he continues to act like a hoodrat thug. It is time to cut ties with this guy because the rest of the TEAM seems to have class. Condoning this activity or minimizing it reflects badly to impressionable youth watching their heroes. A consequence must be severe enough as to dissuade future negative behavior and apparently he hasn’t learned.
The Doctor’s comment that he did nothing wrong is way off. Marijuana is still illegal and just because you want legalization doesn’t make the laws inapplicable or the unlawful behavior acceptable. If we accept that argument then anybody can violate any law if it suits there needs.
...continued
MS. CONRAD; you’re absolutely correct! Unfortunately, MLB will not change a thing. After all, they stand to make more money on Dukes than this embarrassing moment is costing them. It’s a small gamble for them to pay this punk whatever because they’ll make ten times that amount in selling gear with his name. Sorry, things will stay the same. But just for fun, keep track of Dukes to see how long it takes before he’s picked up again after some bar fight in Ybor or some incident at a New Year’s party.
Have a great evening all.
...continued
DR. RICHARDSON; well said…you idiot! Might I suggest you move to Europe and hang out with your pothead friends; you’d make this community a better place. In addition, perhaps should have gone to law school instead of med school knucklehead; that way you could control the law and not prescriptions.
It is normal to be released for only 2 grams. It is a minor misdeamnor barely more serious than a traffic ticket. The only reason they even charge you for it is the hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars they will take from you for “court costs” and “probation fees”. These laws are a joke and are only around to keep poor people stuck “in the system”
Where do I begin?
MR. GRANT; yep, you’re right on. By my calculations and by that of the Dwight Gooden Meter, Dukes has several more opportunities to break the law before he is subjected to the same incarceration afforded non-celebrities (that’s sarcasm of course). I’m certain the Rays are hard at work “coaching” Dukes on what to do now. Don’t tell me, but let me guess what’s next. Yep, soon he’ll be going to the schools and little leagues to talk to the kids about the dangers of doing drugs. Please….this guy’s going to do what he’s going to do and unfortunately there’s nothing the community can do. Hell, it’s not like you can stop supporting the Devil Rays, that’s already happened.
More to come…
Mr. Dukes off-the-field shenanigans are a major distraction. Rays Management would be wise to release him and give him some incentive to mature if he’s ever to become a major league player.
Who are the Devil Rays? Is that a baseball team here in Florida? I didn’t know we still had a team. Oh wait, now I remember, it’s that team named Tampa that plays in St. Pete that hasn’t been to the payoffs in 9 years. And this is news worthy? How about something for that Tampa named hockey team that plays in downtown tampa arena named after a St. Pete business. He was probably smoking to try and find out where he’s supposed to go to practice….
Dr. Eddison, You must be a real quack if you think that drug use is not a problem. There is a need for doctors in Europe. Perhaps you should go to Amsterdam and get yourself hooked up.
This young man continues to get himself in trouble and somewhere along the way the example has got to be set. These so called sports figures really does not set the example that they should for the kids that look up to them. ML baseball needs to really crack down on these players regardless of the level of play and not just slapped them on the rear ! When will all stop !
Advertisement
Posted by Ronald Morrow, Valrico, Fl` on 01/19 at 12:33 PM
To bad the “3 Strikes and Your Out” rule doesn’t apply to athletes who continue to commit acts of crime.
I don’t know what the guidelines are in place to handle such a problem child. But so far it appears there isn’t any as Mr Dukes continues to do drugs, etc. Maybe he needs a better role model to follow after then those already in baseball known or suspected in using drugs or continue to represent baseball in the worst way.