Matt Barnes #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a shot in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2012 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers forward Matt Barnes has been released from jail after being arrested on suspicion of threatening a police officer who stopped him for a traffic warrant.
Manhattan Beach police Sgt. Paul Ford says Barnes posted $51,000 bail and was released shortly before 11:30 p.m. Monday, some three hours after his arrest.
The 32-year-old Barnes was walking in the Los Angeles suburb when he was stopped and arrested on a misdemeanor warrant for driving on a suspended license.
Ford says Barnes allegedly made a verbal threat to the officer and was arrested for that as well.
A call to the Lakers seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned early Tuesday.
Barnes was the Lakers’ top-scoring reserve this past season, averaging 7.8 points per game.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
