Domestic dispute has NBA star Allen Iverson facing multiple charges, arrest in Philadelphia

Basketball All-Star, MVP and scoring champion Allen Iverson, once dubbed "The Answer," now needs a few good ones for Philadelphia police concerning a recent domestic dispute with his wife which led to authorities filing 14 criminal charges, including four felonies, against him.

Iverson, 27, is facing court time after he and uncle Gregory Iverson allegedly barged into the West Philly apartment of his cousin, Shaun Bowman, and his roommate, Charles Jones, in the middle of the night on July 3. Police say the NBA's high scorer and 2001 MVP was hunting for his wife, Tawanna, who had been in hiding for two days--allegedly after he tossed her out on the street, naked, following a two-day argument.

At JET press time Iverson, a Virginia native, was charged with felony and misdemeanor charges: aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangering of other people, conspiracy, possession of an instrument of crime, weapons violations, burglary, and criminal trespass, police said. Iverson does not have a permit to carry a gun. If convicted of all charges, he faces over 50 years in prison.

Gregory Iverson faces similar charges in the incident. He also faces multiple charges, including three felony counts.

Police confined the basketball bad boy to his 8,100-square-foot mansion in Gladwyne, PA. Before his imminent arrest, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson said police would arrest Iverson if seen "on the street or out partying."

So the 1996 No. 1 draft pick and rookie of the year who led his team to the NBA Finals a year ago threw a lavish all-night weekend party at his home.

According to police, the July 3 incident occurred following an argument Iverson had with his wife of 11 months, Tawanna Iverson, a day earlier. The fight allegedly culminated with Allen Iverson's kicking his naked wife out of their suburban house.

The dispute was also recounted on a taped 911 call from Jones, 21, and a 17-year old friend of Iverson's cousin. In the call, made 10 1/2 hours after the incident, Jones told a 911 dispatcher that Iverson barged into his apartment with a gun and demanded to know the whereabouts of his wife. Jones said Iverson and his uncle threatened him and another man who was sleeping at the residence. Jones said Iverson had a gun but didn't brandish it.

Police searched Iverson's mansion and his uncle's home looking for the gun and other evidence. They found broken glass, rocks, women's clothing and smeared blood inside Tawanna Iverson's Cadillac Escalade, but an extensive search of the NBA star's home and cars failed to turn up any guns, a police official said.

Last year Iverson and his longtime girlfriend married during a celebrity-filled ceremony at the Mansion in Voorhees Township in southern New Jersey. The Iversons have a son, Allen II, and a daughter, Tiaura (JET, August 20, 2001). They had not commented on the incident as of JET press time.

Philadelphia 76ers coach Larry Brown and general manager Billy King said they support Iverson through the legal process. "I'm hopeful this thing gets resolved and this kid can move on with his life," Brown said. "He's part of our family and will always be a part of our family."

However, NBA officials say Iverson's contract with the Philadelphia 76ers wouldn't be guaranteed if he were convicted of a felony. Iverson has $40.5 million and three years left on a $70.8 million extension signed in January 1999.

Former NBA great Charles Barkley told an interviewer that he thinks the 76ers have been partly to blame for Iverson's troubles.

"I think the Sixers have to take some responsibility because kids learn through discipline, and now it's kind of like the tail is wagging the dog," Barkley said in an interview broadcast on WCAU-TV.

"He's going to be fine ... But he can't keep putting himself in situations where really bad stuff can happen," said Barkley.