Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Gooden's son held on drug charges

The ex-baseball star's son was wanted on an outstanding warrant for violating probation.

TAMPA - The oldest son of former baseball star Dwight Gooden was arrested Sunday on an outstanding warrant for violating probation.

Dwight Eugene Gooden Jr., 19, was arrested about 2:30 a.m. Tampa police said they found marijuana and gun ammunition in his car.

Police charged Gooden with possession of marijuana, a felon in possession of ammunition and two counts of violation of probation for previous possession of cocaine charges.

Gooden, who lives in an apartment at 10610 N 30th St., was sentenced to 24 months of probation and ordered to perform 150 hours of community service in September 2004 after an arrest that included a charge for delivery of cocaine during a drug sting.

His attorney at the time argued that deputies arrested the wrong person on the delivery charge, saying Gooden was with his parents on the night of the sting.

Prosecutors dismissed the delivery charge, and Gooden pleaded to two other cocaine possession charges.

A warrant was issued for Gooden earlier this summer for violating his probation. The exact violation was unknown Sunday.

Eric J. Kunke, Gooden's last known attorney, said he no longer represented him and did not know who does. Jail records listed no attorney's name.

Police caught up with Gooden early Sunday at 800 E Whiting St. in downtown Tampa.

According to the arrest affidavit, police searched Gooden's vehicle and found a plastic bag of marijuana in the center console. Also inside the vehicle was ammunition for a Winchester shotgun and a Remington Magnum rifle, including a spent shell.

Gooden remained in jail without bail.

The elder Gooden, a special assistant to New York Yankees boss George Steinbrenner, has dealt with drug problems as well.

During his career, he has had drug-related suspensions from the game.

Dwight Gooden played with the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Houston Astros and won three World Series championship rings.

--Kevin Graham can be reached at 813 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com