For the third time since May, former Michigan State University basketball player Keith Appling has been arrested and once again a gun is involved, police say.
Appling, 24, was arrested at about 9 p.m. Sunday on Detroit's east side after first driving away from a traffic stop and then stopping his car following a short pursuit, Detroit police said in a news release this morning.
Sgt. Michael Woody said police stopped Appling's 2013 Dodge Challenger Blue after observing him commit a traffic violation at Russell and Seven Mile. An officer noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and requested Appling's driver's license.
As the officer reached his hand inside the vehicle to retrieve Mr. Appling's driver's license, Appling rolled up his window and drove off, Woody said. The officers pursued and stopped the vehicle at Orleans and East. State Fair and took Mr. Appling into custody without further incident, Woody said.
Police noticed a Gucci bag that had been on the rear seat was now missing from the vehicle. Backtracking, the found the bag on the side of the road with a loaded semi-automatic Berretta inside along with paperwork with Appling's name.
Appling was arrested in May outside a strip club in Dearborn on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a loaded firearm and marijuana
In June, he was arrested in Detroit, when he was in the back seat of a car during a traffic stop and a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber handgun was in the floorboard, Detroit police previously testified.
Both other cases are pending in Wayne County Circuit Court. Appling's attorney Cyril Hall didn't immediately respond to a voicemail Monday seeking comment.
Appling played for Michigan State from 2010-2014 and had two brief contracts with the Orlando Magic last season, according to the AP.
