ST. LOUIS • Former professional basketball player and East St. Louis native Darius Miles was arrested Wednesday at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport for allegedly trying to bring a loaded firearm through security, authorities said.
Miles, 29, was arrested about 3:30 p.m. after Transportation Security Administration personnel discovered the weapon during an X-ray screening at the airport, according to law enforcement officials. Miles was arrested by St. Louis airport police, then booked into the St. Louis County jail in Clayton.
It was unclear whether the gun was found in luggage or whether Miles was carrying it. The weapon was discovered at the Concourse A checkpoint. Authorities did not say what type of gun was seized.
Miles was booked about 8:30 p.m. on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon, authorities said. He was to be released pending application of a warrant on a formal criminal charge. He was not required to post bail.
The St. Louis County prosecutor's office will review the case and decide whether charges will be filed.
Miles now lives in Swansea, according to information he provided to police and jail officials.
Miles was picked out of East St. Louis High School at No. 3 overall in the 2000 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He also played with Cleveland and Portland.
Miles last played in the NBA in 2009 with the Memphis Grizzlies, according to basketball-reference.com and The Associated Press. He was invited to the Charlotte Bobcats camp in 2010 but did not make the team.
Miles was arrested in 2009 in Fairview Heights for possession of a small amount of marijuana and driving on a suspended license. The resolution of that case was unclear Wednesday evening. He had to sit out 10 games in 2008-09 for violating the NBA's substance abuse policy while he was with the Grizzlies.
David Hunn of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
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