POINSETT COUNTY, Ark. – Authorities in Arkansas arrested former Memphis Grizzlies superstar Tony Allen on drug charges.
Poinsett County Sheriff Kevin Molder said that deputies pulled over a car on I-555 near Payneway on Wednesday. Allen was a passenger inside that car being driven by William Hatton, according to Molder.
Deputies smelled marijuana during the traffic stop and had both Allen and Hatton get out of the car. While searching Allen, deputies found a package containing marijuana, the sheriff said. Hatton confessed to owning another package of marijuana.
Inside the car, deputies said they found drug paraphernalia and a cigarette box in the passenger seat pouch where Allen was sitting. Inside that box, the sheriff said deputies discovered a clear plastic wrapper that contained a white powdery substance, which later tested positive for cocaine.
Both Allen and Hatton were charged with possession of less than two grams of meth or cocaine and possession of less than four ounces of marijuana. Hatton was also charged with drug paraphernalia and improper lane change.
RELATED: Grizzlies to retire Tony Allen’s No. 9 jersey in March
His arrest comes months after the Grizzlies retired Allen’s jersey. Allen, known affectionately by Grizzlies fans as “The Grindfather,” was named to the NBA All-Defensive team six times during his seven seasons in Memphis (2010-2017). He became only the third Memphis Grizzlies player ever to have his jersey retired by the team and ranks second in team history in steals (762), ninth for offensive rebounds (741), and 10th in blocks (217). He was also inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.
RELATED: Tony Allen sentenced to time served in NBA health care fraud case
His Arkansas arrest is only the latest legal challenge for the Grizzlies icon. In August 2023, a judge sentenced Allen to time served after pleading guilty to health care fraud and wire fraud in a wide-ranging case related to NBA health care fraud. The indictment against Allen claimed that he and others submitted false and fraudulent claims to get reimbursed for medical and dental expenses that never actually happened between 2017 and 2020.
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