<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Sonics center Vitaly Potapenko was arrested early Sunday outside a nightclub in Miami Beach, Fla., and charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest without violence, both misdemeanors. According to an arresting officer's report, Potapenko, 29, refused to leave the club Crobar after being denied admittance because he appeared intoxicated. The arresting officer wrote that Potapenko was told he would be arrested if he did not "calm down, lower his voice and leave the club property." According to the report, Potapenko responded, "Will you?" The officer then quoted Potapenko using a contemptuous racial slur: "Go arrest some (slur) drug dealers." Potapenko was arrested after he said, "I'm not going anywhere," according to the officer. David Bauman, Potapenko's agent, said he spoke to his client yesterday. "He denies making any derogatory statements," Bauman said. "He categorically denies using any racial slur. It's not in his character, and it's part of an overall misunderstanding." Potapenko is Ukrainian and speaks with a thick accent. Attempts to contact him were unsuccessful yesterday. Bauman said Potapenko has retained an attorney and there will be a meeting with prosecutors, perhaps this week. "He regrets the incident," Bauman said. "He described it as a boys' night out and that it got out of his hand. He's embarrassed and apologizes to his franchise, family and everyone." The report said Potapenko was uncooperative, and that he refused to give a social security number. "Supersonics" was written in the space designated for a phone number. "NBA" was listed in the spot for a secondary phone number.</div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Danny O'Neil and the Seattle PI.</font> Ah that last bit cracked me up. If you read the full article, it seems he was blind drunk and Rick Sund will refrain from any action, if any, until the full details of the incident come out. Although the question remains, after seeing him with the black eye after playing Utah, would you want to take on the Ukraine Train?
Hahaha, its the offseason, he's allowed to have some fun. I'm hoping management isnt too hard on him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He described it as a boys' night out and that it got out of his hand.</div> Sounds like innocent fun to me, like Shard said, hopefully management will be easy on him. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Duece~2:</div><div class="quote_post">I didn't know he was like that atall</div> It's not a big deal, he was just drunk. Police and drinking, they will nail you. South Beach is a god, I'd love to know which club he was at.
Vitaly seems to get into a lot of trouble in South Beach. Last year he missed practice and sat out the game against Miami in Miami. This is not a big deal. I just hope Vitaly or any other Sonic doesn't get caught up in some real trouble this off season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Sonics center Vitaly Potapenko likely will have the opportunity to have both of the misdemeanor charges he faces in Florida dismissed after he was arrested for disorderly intoxication. All first-time offenders of non-violent crimes in Florida are eligible for a pre-trial diversion which can range from charity donation to a program of meetings. Potapenko, 29, was arrested in Florida on charges of disorderly intoxication and resisting without violence last month when he got into a confrontation over entrance to a Miami Beach club. </div> <a href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/186183_sonx13.html" target="_blank"> Full Story</a> courtesy of Seattle P.I.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MIAMI -- Seattle SuperSonics center Vitaly Potapenko will avoid prosecution on misdemeanor charges of disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest without violence if he successfully completes a pretrial diversion program. Miami-Dade County Judge Jeffrey Swartz on Wednesday approved the NBA player's entry into The Advocate Program, a nonprofit organization under contract with the courts for people accepted into diversion programs. The program's staffers will determine what Potapenko will have to do to meet its requirements. Assistant State Attorney Deisy Rodriguez said Potapenko will not be prosecuted if he completes the program.</div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of ESPN.</font>
