Former NBA star Tony Allen, known as the “Grindfather” during his Memphis Grizzlies days, was arrested in Arkansas this week on drug possession charges. According to police reports, officers stopped the vehicle in which Allen was a passenger during a routine traffic check on Interstate 555 near Memphis on Tuesday night. The vehicle was driven by William Hatton, whom Allen claimed he does not know.
In a later statement, Allen claimed the drugs didn’t belong to him and that he was unaware they were in the vehicle he was riding in.
“I want to be very clear: I was not in the possession of, nor was I aware of, the illegal drugs found in the vehicle that belonged to the driver. I have never used cocaine or methamphetamine, and these substances do not reflect who I am or my values,”
Bodycam footage shows officers pulling Allen over before conducting a search of his vehicle.
Tony Allen was seen on bodycam footage agitated during his drug arrest.
‘I got too much to lose’ https://t.co/tUq9pag5ZI pic.twitter.com/F2C1gbO6Sk
— TMZ (@TMZ) November 6, 2025
They found less than 4 grams of marijuana and a cigarette box with less than 2 grams of a white powdery substance, later tested positive for cocaine, inside the car. Police records show Allen, 43, was taken into custody on Tuesday night and later released from the Pulaski County Jail after posting bond.
His friend tried to get him off the hook by saying everything was his and dropped some Jimmy Hart references.
Man arrested with Tony Allen takes full responsibility in body cam footage! pic.twitter.com/YGCueoiYl7
— Doc Holliday (@The_DocHolliday) November 6, 2025
The former NBA defensive standout spent over a decade in the league, winning a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and earning six All-Defensive Team honors.
In 2023, Allen was accused of defrauding the league’s health and welfare benefit plan along with other NBA players. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare and wire fraud, receiving community service and three years of supervised probation.
