NEW ORLEANS, April 25 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Derrick Caracter was arrested and jailed for allegedly hitting a New Orleans waitress, police said Monday.
Caracter, 22, was in the city with the Lakers Sunday as they took on the New Orleans Hornets in a first-round playoff series.
Police spokeswoman Shereese Harper told The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune Caracter was charged with striking a waitress while drunk and disorderly at a downtown restaurant early Sunday.
The 6-foot-9 rookie back-up was taken into custody after he allegedly "started grabbing and pulling" a waitress, which prompted the manager to run outside and signal police for help.
Harper said Caracter refused to cooperate with a female officer and so was handcuffed, arrested and booked on misdemeanor charges of battery, public intoxication and resisting arrest.
The newspaper said the player was released from jail but it was unclear when his bond was posted.
The incident happened on an off-night between the two games the Lakers played against the Hornets in New Orleans.
