QUEENS, N.Y. — Former NBA player and UConn guard Ben Gordon was arrested at LaGuardia Airport Monday after allegedly hitting his 10-year-old son, sources told the New York Post and Daily News.
Port Authority police barred Gordon, 39, from boarding his flight and handcuffed him around 8:45 p.m., the New York Post reported.
Gordon is facing assault charges.
According to the Queens district attorney’s office, witnesses, including an American Airlines employee, saw Gordon yell at his son and punch him several times in the face after the boy dropped a book on the ground.
At an arraignment Tuesday night, Gordon was charged with offenses including assault, resisting arrest, contempt and child endangerment. He was ordered to return to court Friday, according to the DA's office.
Gordon's son was escorted by his aunt and taken to a children's hospital in Long Island for evaluation, Post reported.
Two Port Authority officers received minor injuries while making the arrest, police sources told NYP. The Post noted it's not immediately clear how the officers were injured.
According to a criminal complaint, Gordon’s son has an order of protection against his father dating from 2018 that forbids Gordon from “committing physical abuse, harassment, or the interference with personal liberty,” and prohibits Gordon from removing the boy from Illinois.
Joshua Kirshner, an attorney representing Gordon, said the son is 10 or 11 years old.
"It is very early in the case," Kirshner said in an email Wednesday. “We are confident that when we complete our investigation my client will be able to demonstrate his innocence.”
Gordon has been arrested multiple times in the past several years, including for alleged robbery in 2017. He was also accused of pulling fire alarms at his LA apartment when there was no fire.
Gordon was a guard for the UConn men's basketball team between 2001-2004. He was drafted by the NBA's Chicago Bulls after his junior year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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