New Orleans Pelicans big man Jaxson Hayes was arrested in the Los Angeles area after allegedly fighting with police who were responding to a domestic disturbance Wednesday morning.
TMZ Sports reported the news of Hayes’ arrest, indicating that the 21-year-old “got combative” with the officers on the scene, leading to a violent scuffle in which one officer, along with Hayes, sought treatment at a hospital for injuries.
The report states that Hayes may face a felony battery charge for his attack.
Hayes was allegedly shot with a taser to end the scuffle, as he attempted to keep police off the property. The investigation into the domestic disturbance is ongoing, but according to TMZ, no one is cooperating as of yet.
Following a one-and-done stint at at Texas, Hayes entered the 2019 NBA Draft, in which the Atlanta Hawks initially selected him eighth overall. However, Atlanta promptly traded him to New Orleans in a deal centered around De’Andre Hunter.
Although he’s shown potential in his limited opportunities as a pro, Hayes has logged only 16.5 minutes per contest to date, with averages of 7.4. points and 4.2 rebounds. This alleged violent incident may put his NBA career on hold depending on how it shakes out.