Ex-NBA guard Ty Lawson was arrested in Colorado earlier this month after police accused him of shoplifting a bottle of vodka and becoming confrontational with officers.
According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, Lawson allegedly stole a $34 bottle of Tito’s vodka from a liquor store in Castle Rock on July 16 before going to a nearby restaurant.
Police said Lawson appeared intoxicated and smelled of alcohol when officers confronted him.
Authorities allege Lawson repeatedly called an officer “bitch” and “white bitch,” shouted “stop” several times, kicked the glass wall of his holding cell and spat on the floor after his arrest.
The report says Lawson later apologized for his behavior.
He was booked on a misdemeanor shoplifting charge involving property valued at less than $300 before being released. Lawson has not publicly addressed the arrest.
The incident is not Lawson’s first legal issue. He pleaded guilty to a reduced DUI-related charge in 2015 and was arrested again later that year in Los Angeles on suspicion of DUI before entering rehab.
Lawson spent eight seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Denver Nuggets, while also playing for the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards before finishing his career overseas.
Ex-NBA Star Ty Lawson Allegedly Called Cop ‘White Bitch’ During Shoplifting Arrest https://t.co/KL6YjMJ1Qa
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) July 23, 2026
