Tony Allen, a former participant in the NBA and largely recognized as one of the premier defensive players during his tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies, has been apprehended in Poinsett County, Arkansas, due to accusations of possessing illegal substances, as indicated by official online records. The records reveal that Allen, currently 43 years old, was formally processed into the Poinsett County Jail shortly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, facing two distinct charges. These include one charge for the possession of a quantity less than two grams of a Schedule 1 or 2 controlled substance, and another for possessing less than four ounces of a Schedule 4 controlled substance.
The apprehension occurred following a vehicular traffic stop involving a car operated by William Hatton, 33, in which Allen was a passenger, according to reports from The Associated Press. Authorities reported detecting a “distinct smell of marijuana,” leading to a subsequent search of the vehicle. Law enforcement discovered marijuana on Allen’s person, along with a cigarette container holding a “white powdery material,” which was later confirmed to be cocaine, as detailed in the official police report. Hatton admitted to having drug paraphernalia related to marijuana use during the course of the traffic stop, according to information provided by Action News 5 in Memphis.
The NBA veteran, who played for 14 years, initiated his professional career with the Boston Celtics in 2004, having been drafted as the 25th overall pick. Allen spent six seasons with the Celtics, securing a championship in 2008, though he is most celebrated for his contributions to the Memphis Grizzlies. His time with the Grizzlies spanned from 2010 to 2017, during which he received six selections to the All-Defensive team, including three first-team accolades (2012, 2013, 2015) and three second-team distinctions (2011, 2016, 2017). Allen concluded his NBA journey with a single season playing for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Allen was honored in March when the Grizzlies retired his jersey number 9, placing him alongside former teammates Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph in receiving such recognition. Additionally, Allen has encountered legal issues, including a guilty plea in August 2023 in a federal fraud case concerning NBA health benefits.
