Cincinnati Reds pitcher Leake arrested for stealing six shirts

2011-04-19 07:29:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

CINCINNATI, OHIO (BNO NEWS) -- Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mike Leake on Monday was arrested after being caught stealing six shirts worth around $60, WCPO television reported.

Leake, 23, was arrested by Cincinnati police at a downtown department store. The pitcher was detained by Macy's security personnel after he removed tags from six American Rag shirts.

The pitcher was caught by security cameras leaving the department store without paying for the shirts. The items were listed in a court document as being worth $58.88. He was booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center on one count of misdemeanor theft.

Leake, of Ludlow, was drafted eighth overall in the first round of the 2010 amateur draft and received a $2.27 million signing bonus. He will earn $450,000 this season. He is labeled as the future of the Reds' pitching staff.

The Cincinnati Reds and the Major League Baseball (MLB) declined to address this matter until legal proceedings are finalized. Furthermore, the Reds deplored Leake's behavior and added that the issue will be handled internally in due time.

"We do not condone behavior of the type alleged, which is wholly inconsistent with the principles of this organization and our community and is detrimental to the positive direction we seek to follow," read a statement from the Cincinnati Reds.

A statement on behalf of the 23-year-old pitcher only confirmed the arrest as his attorney advised him not to talk until court proceedings have concluded. However, the player apologized to the organization and the fans for the "distraction."

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-19

You can take some kids out of the [supporting and loving white middle class family in San Diego] but you can't take .....

Uhhh - doesn't compute.