Former Memphis Grizzlies defender Tony Allen was arrested Wednesday, November 5, in Poinsett County, Arkansas, after a traffic stop on Interstate 555, the Associated Press reported. Allen, 43, faces two counts of drug possession. The driver of the vehicle was identified as William Hatton, 33, of Memphis.

A Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office report said deputies found a leafy substance on Allen that field testing later identified as marijuana. A search of the vehicle uncovered a cigarette box containing a powdery substance that later tested positive for cocaine. The report led to possession charges against Allen.

Allen played in Memphis from 2011 to 2017 and was a core figure in the team’s “Grit and Grind” era. He was originally drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2004 after playing at Oklahoma State and finished his career with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Legal history resurfaces for Allen

The arrest comes after Allen pleaded guilty in August 2023 in a federal case tied to an NBA health insurance and fraud scheme. He was sentenced to community service and three years of supervised probation. The new arrest places Allen back under legal scrutiny.

Despite the legal troubles, the Grizzlies retired Allen’s No. 9 jersey in March. He became the third member of Memphis’ Core Four to have his number retired, following Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. The fourth member, Mike Conley, is still active with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The case is active and subject to investigation and legal process. No further charges or official league statements were provided in the police report included in the original news copy.