NBA free agent Cam Payne, previously with the Philadelphia 76ers, found himself in legal trouble last month following an incident that unfolded during the late hours of the night.
According to a report from TMZ Sports, Payne was arrested on the morning of June 14th after a series of interactions with police officers, during which he repeatedly declined to provide his real name.
The situation began when Payne himself made a 911 call around 2:44 AM after an argument with his girlfriend escalated. Responding to the call, the Scottsdale Police arrived at the scene, only to be informed by both Payne and his girlfriend that their assistance was no longer necessary.
However, the officers required Payne’s name and date of birth to complete their report on the incident. It was at this point that the interaction took a contentious turn. Payne, rather than complying with the officers’ request, repeatedly insisted that his name was “Terry Johnson.” His steadfast refusal and the fictitious name provided led to a stern warning from the police, who expressed their belief that he was not being truthful.
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Payne’s response to the accusation was dismissive, remarking, “that’s fine.” He eventually wrote down a name, only to immediately inform the officers, “no, that’s my fake name, can you please leave?” This defiance led to a final ultimatum from the police: provide his real name or face arrest. Payne’s reply, “If you want to arrest me for giving you a fake name, congratulations,” effectively sealed his fate.
Following this exchange, police arrested the 29-year-old, charging him with one count of refusal to provide a truthful name and one count of false reporting to law enforcement. He was subsequently taken to jail but was released shortly after the incident.
In the 2023-24 NBA season, Payne played 78 games split between the Milwaukee Bucks and the 76ers, where he averaged 7.4 points per game. His recent arrest adds a challenging layer to his professional journey, overshadowing his athletic contributions with off-court controversies.
This incident not only reflects a personal misstep for Payne but also serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of complicating interactions with law enforcement.
