UPDATED: Lightning's Ryan Malone arrested on DUI, cocaine charges

Author:
amuir29
Publish date:
Apr 12, 2014

Lightning forward Ryan Malone's frustrating season has taken a shocking turn with his arrest. (Bill Streicher/Icon SMI)

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone was arrested early Saturday morning on charges of DUI and cocaine possession, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The arrest report, including Malone's mug shot, can be seen here.

"We are aware of the situation concerning Ryan Malone this morning," general manager Steve Yzerman said in a statement. "Ryan will not travel with the team to Washington today, but beyond that we cannot comment further at this time."

Beat writer Damien Cristodero reports that Malone was arrested by Tampa police at 3:23 a.m. Saturday on Platt Street and Rome Avenue in Tampa. He was being held on $2,500 bond.

According to the arrest report, Malone was pulled over after an officer witnessed his car colliding with a curb. He refused to take a field sobriety test and was taken into custody on suspicion of being intoxicated. Two breath tests were conducted and Malone blew a .112 and a .116, well over Florida's limit of .08.

During a search, an officer found a bag containing 1.3 grams of cocaine in Malone's right back pocket.

According to TSN legal analyst Eric Macramalla, Malone faces up to five years in prison if convicted on the possession of cocaine charge.

Malone did not play in Friday night's win over Columbus. It was his third straight healthy scratch in a season that's seen the formerly productive power forward limited to 15 points over 57 games.

Malone, who is listed at 224 pounds on his official NHL page, was listed at a surprising 250 on the arrest report.

UPDATE: "We are aware of the situation this morning involving Tampa Bay

Lightning forward Ryan Malone," said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly in a statement. "Under the terms of the collectively bargained joint NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, Mr. Malone is subject to mandatory evaluation and, if deemed necessary by the Program Doctors, treatment pursuant to the terms of that Program. His future playing status, both in the near term and during the Playoffs, will be determined in accordance the terms of our SABH Program."