Pacers' Williams at scene of drug arrest

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CARMEL, Ind., July 20 (UPI) -- Indiana Pacers forward Shawne Williams was in a car when one of his passengers was arrested for alleged marijuana possession in Carmel, Ind., police say.

Lt. Jeff Horner of the Carmel Police Department said Williams was driving a car stopped by police Friday evening and one of his associates from his hometown of Memphis allegedly was found to be holding a small amount of marijuana, The Indianapolis Star reported Sunday.

Horner said the passenger, Darrell Smith Jr., 21, was arrested on the misdemeanor charge and Williams was ticketed for tinted windshield and seat belt violations. The vehicle did not belong to Williams.

The incident is the third involving Williams since September 2007. One involved an associate wanted on murder charges being arrested in February after leaving Williams' home in a truck registered in the basketball player's name.The other occurred last September when Williams was stopped for driving without a driver's license and the same associate was found with marijuana.

Pacers President Larry Bird said in a statement Saturday such actions were threatening Williams' future with the Pacers, the Star reported.

"While Shawne Williams was not involved in any arrest or any criminal wrongdoing, we are extremely upset and hugely disappointed he once again has put himself in a position that jeopardizes Shawne's future as a member of the Indiana Pacers," Bird said.