Prosecutors to seek prison for former Yankees slugger

<br>TAMPA, Fla. (AP) _ Prosecutors will push for prison time for Darryl Strawberry, the former New York Yankees slugger who late last week failed to report to a residential drug treatment center where

Saturday, March 31st 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) _ Prosecutors will push for prison time for Darryl Strawberry, the former New York Yankees slugger who late last week failed to report to a residential drug treatment center where he was under house arrest.

Prosecutors say the multiple chances he's had for freedom on the outside have not worked.

``We were seeking prison time on his last violation,'' said Pam Bondi, a spokeswoman for the State Attorney's Office. ``We certainly haven't changed our opinion. He was given every opportunity and he has all the resources.''

Strawberry, 39, never returned to his apartment at the center Thursday night after a drug counseling session.

It was the second time he's left the facility and the third time he's violated the terms of his 1999 sentence on drug possession and solicitation of prostitution.

At the treatment facility, a counselor said those who know Strawberry are ``as concerned as everybody else'' about him. Besides his addiction, Strawberry is also undergoing treatment for colon cancer.

``It's very sad,'' Yankee manager Joe Torre told the New York Daily News. ``The longer it goes not finding him, the scarier it gets.''

While a warrant has been issued for Strawberry's arrest, police said they were not actively searching for him because he is not considered a violent offender.