Cepeda arrested on suspicion of drug possession

[Capt_Morgan]

i will never understand why
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports ... enDocument

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda was arrested after a California Highway Patrol officer pulled him over for speeding and discovered drugs in the car.

The former Cardinals and San Francisco Giants star was stopped about 3 p.m. Tuesday after his 2001 Lexus was clocked going 83 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 80 in Cordelia, about 40 miles northeast of San Francisco, the CHP said.

While approaching the vehicle, "the officer smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the car," CHP Sgt. Wulf Corrington said Wednesday.

The CHP officer arrested Cepeda after finding a "usable" amount of a white-powder substance that likely was methamphetamine or cocaine, Corrington said. The officer also found marijuana and a syringe, he added.

The 69-year-old Cepeda was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance, along with possession of a hypodermic needle or syringe and possession of marijuana, both misdemeanors.

Cepeda, who was the National League MVP as the Cardinals' first baseman in 1967, works for the Giants as a community liaison and speaks to at-risk children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Giants spokeswoman Staci Slaughter said neither the team nor Cepeda would have an immediate comment about his arrest.

"The arresting officer did not see visible signs of intoxication or being under the influence," Corrington said.

Cepeda, alone at the time of the arrest, was booked and released from the Solano County Jail on Tuesday, Corrington said. Bail had been set at $12,600, according to the Solano County Jail log.

Cepeda has not yet been charged, and the Solano County District Attorney's office declined to comment on his arrest. The district attorney's office would not discuss potential sentences because it had not yet received a recommendation from the CHP.

The Giants said Cepeda had hired attorney Ted Cassman of Berkeley, who did not immediately return a telephone call.

After his playing career ended, Cepeda was convicted in 1976 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, of smuggling marijuana and sentenced to five years in prison.

That conviction was probably one reason he was not elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Cepeda eventually was elected by the Veterans Committee in 1999.

A first baseman during his 17 big league seasons, Cepeda started his career with the Giants and moved on to St. Louis, Atlanta, Oakland, Boston and Kansas City.

A seven-time All-Star who played in three World Series, Cepeda was known as "Baby Bull" and "Cha-Cha." Cepeda was a .297 career hitter with 379 home runs and 1,365 RBIs.

[Ankiel84]

Wow, 69 years old and still involved in that stuff. Pretty sad, hope he can get some help.

[Radbird]

Cepeda, who was the National League MVP as the Cardinals' first baseman in 1967, works for the Giants as a community liaison and speaks to at-risk children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Giants spokeswoman Staci Slaughter said neither the team nor Cepeda would have an immediate comment about his arrest.

Wow. Not Cha Cha.

Another childhood hero bites the dust.

[heyzeus]

Maybe it was medicinal!

[cardinalkarp]

Cepeda will always be one of my favorite Cardinals.

And while I'm not excusing it, I wonder if it isn't
medicinal. The chronic pain in his knees must be
awful.

I doubt the cocaine or meth (they're not sure which it was) was medicinal. They said they found some paraphernalia also.

[Ankiel84]

Cepeda will always be one of my favorite Cardinals.

And while I'm not excusing it, I wonder if it isn't
medicinal. The chronic pain in his knees must be
awful.

There should be other solutions to chronic knee pain than smoking some weed while he's blazing down the highway at 83 mph.

[docellis]

I don't think you can administer marijuana with a syringe?

[cardinalkarp]

I just heard on the radio that he is a diabetic and he does have a perscription for medical marijuana so they let him go.