NYPD, DA clear J.R. Smith in alleged incident
CLEVELAND — J.R. Smith has been cleared of any culpability stemming from an alleged incident between the Cleveland Cavaliers guard and a teenage fan in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York in November.
The New York Police Department and district attorney’s office have closed their investigation, Smith’s criminal defense lawyer, Alex Spiro, announced Friday.
“After a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding this case, we have concluded that the evidence does not support criminal charges against Mr. Smith,” Patrick Muncie, spokesman for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, confirmed in a statement to ESPN.com.
Smith, 30, was accused of choking 19-year-old Justin Brown at about 4 a.m. ET on Nov. 13, outside Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, not far from the popular lounge 1 OAK, after Brown allegedly heckled Smith for being traded from the New York Knicks to the Cavs last season.
Smith and the Cavs were in New York to play a road game against the Knicks.
“We are thankful there was not a rush to judgment and the truth came out,” Spiro said in a statement.
A police report was not filed until three days after the alleged confrontation. When news of the alleged altercation broke, Smith initially took to Twitter to deny its veracity.
Don’t believe everything you read!
JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) November 20, 2015
He later told ESPN.com that the Cavs organization “had my back 110 percent” after the ordeal.
Smith, a 12-year veteran, is averaging 12.2 points and 2.6 rebounds for Cleveland this season while starting 37 games.
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