Former Big Leaguer Facing Drug Charges

Otis Nixon ranks 16th all-time in stolen bases.  Unfortunately, the speedster wasn't all that fleet of foot this past weekend, having been popped by the cops and now…facing drug charges.

Ugh, yeah, I'd like to apologize for the TMZ-like "reporting". 

In all seriousness, this is some pretty bad news for the onetime big leaguer.  Nixon was pulled over Saturday night in Cherokee County, Georgia and, well…here's what the Atlanta Journal Constitution had to say.  

Former Big Leaguer Facing Drug Charges

A 911 caller reported a red Dodge Ram pickup truck driving erratically on I-575 north shortly after midnight and a deputy was dispatched and pulled the truck over, the report states.

A state trooper assisted with the traffic stop.  Inside Nixon’s truck, investigators found a small rock substance believed to be crack cocaine, the report states. Nixon also had a crack pipe in his pants’ pockets, deputies said.

“Otis admitted to me that the substance was crack cocaine but it didn’t belong to him,” a deputy wrote in the report. “Otis said the crack cocaine and the pipe belonged to his son.”

During a search of the truck, investigators found an additional crack pipe, more suspected crack rocks and a plastic bag containing suspected cocaine residue in the floor board of the driver’s side, the sheriff’s office said.

Nixon, who has a history of drug and alcohol issues did not, according to police, appear to be under the influence.  However, after being place in the backseat of the cop car, the 17-year big league veteran handed over another small bag of suspected crack cocaine rocks.  Yikes.

The 54-year-old was charged with possession of cocaine and possession of a drug-related object and is currently be held on $11,880 bond.

During his career, which included stints, most notably, with the Montreal Expos and Atlanta Braves, Nixon hit .270 with 620 stolen bases.  Fun fact…he has stolen the most bases for a player that has never appeared in an All-Star game.

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