3 Pacers players involved in bar fight; no charges filed

Wednesday, February 7th 2007, 11:41 am

By: News On 6

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ Indiana Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley and at least one teammate were accused by a nightclub manager and witnesses of punching the manager during a fight at the bar, but no one was immediately charged, police said.

Tinsley, teammates Marquis Daniels and Keith McLeod and the manager fought at 8 Seconds Saloon about 2:15 a.m. Tuesday, just hours after the Pacers lost at home against Golden State, police said. The confrontation happened after another fight that involved a person who employees thought was trying to steal coats from the coat check area, police said.

None of the players was immediately arrested, but the manager and others told officers that Tinsley, Daniels and a man with them punched the manager in the face and head.

The manager ``stated that he was unable to defend himself, at which time both witnesses ... stated that they felt that the life of the victim was in danger,'' the city police report said.

Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said in a statement Wednesday that the team was aware of the allegations but would have no further comment until police complete the investigation.

The police report said the bar manager might have a fractured jaw and severed earlobe. He told officers that Tinsley had threatened to kill him, the report said. Witnesses told officers that McLeod had at least shoved people during the scuffle.

A phone number provided by the NBA Players Association for Tinsley's agent, Raymond J. Brothers, was answered by a message saying it was no longer in service.

Tinsley was at a strip club with then-Pacers teammate Stephen Jackson in October when a fight broke out during which Jackson fired a gun into the air several times before he was hit by a car.

Tinsley was not charged in that fight, but Jackson faces criminal recklessness and other charges. Jackson has pleaded not guilty.

The latest fight came just after the loss to Golden State, the team to which Jackson was traded last month.