Josh Powell may spend the night in Fulton County Jail.
The Atlanta center and former Riverside High School graduate was arrested blocks from Philips Arena for blocking an ambulance, Atlanta Police Department spokesman Curtis Davenport told Christian Boone of the AJC. The police allege that Powell, 28, was trying to make a turn to Park Avenue West from Marietta Street when an ambulance tried to get through.
Despite being allegedly ordered by the police to go through the intersection, Powell remained in the turn lane and was arrested by the police for blocking traffic and impeding the ambulance's progress. Traffic was heavy in the area because the SEC Championship Tournament is being played at the nearby Georgia Dome.
Powell faces Failure to Obey Authorized Personnel, Failure to Yield for an Emergency Vehicle and Obstruction of Office charges.
The Obstruction charge is a felony. No bail was set on that charge and Powell has a court date on Sunday according to Ms. Winston, an operator at the Fulton County Jail. The other two charges require a $300 bond.
"We were made aware of a traffic incident that occurred en route to (Powell) coming to the game, reportedly near the arena," Hawks VP of Public Relations Arthur Triche told the AJC's Michael Cunningham. "That's as much as we know about the situation at this time. We do understand charges have been filed but beyond that we have no further comment."
Powell was not the only one who missed Saturday night's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Al Horford was out too. He was nursing a sore left ankle.