Former NBA player Rider held in theft

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Mar 30, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- Alameda native and former basketball star Isaiah Rider was jailed Saturday for investigation of auto theft, police said.

Rider, 37, was driving a car that failed to stop at an intersection about 2:30 a.m. in the city's Skid Row district, Officer Norma Eisenman said.

Officers checking the license plates discovered the car had been reported stolen from South Los Angeles, and Rider was arrested, police said.

He remained in the Los Angeles County jail on $25,000 bail, according to the county Sheriff's Department's Web site.

Rider played baseball and basketball at Encinal High School, then starred at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, before reaching the NBA in 1993.

He played with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets before ending his career in 2001.

Rider had a string of arrests during and after his career on charges including drug use and assault.

He also racked up large fines and suspensions during his playing days for offenses that ranged from being tardy to practice to spitting at fans.

In January, Berkeley police answering a report of a confrontation between a taxi driver and a passenger arrested Rider on felony warrants issued in Oakland that alleged unlawful firearm possession and grand theft.

Last year he pleaded guilty in Marin County to several charges, including felony cocaine possession, battery and evading a police officer.

Prior to his sentencing on those charges, Rider told the court his life had spun out of control.