21-Year-Old NBA Player Center Charged With 12 Misdemeanors Including Scuffle With Cops

NBA star Jaxson Hayes, 21, has been charged Monday with 12 misdemeanors in Los Angeles County, including domestic abuse and resisting arrest charges for a 2021 incident.

The New Orleans Pelicans player is facing up to one year in jail for charges, including an incident on July 28, 2021, when he went hysterical in his girlfriend’s home in Woodland Hills, California; he ended up getting tased by the police. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón declined to press felony charges against Hayes last year, the reason for L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer’s office to pursue the misdemeanor charges filed on Monday. Among the other charges are vandalism, trespassing and battery against a police officer, Los Angeles city attorney spokesman Rob Wilcox said.

“Hayes has been charged with 12 counts…including inflicting corporal injury (domestic violence charge), destroying property, use of force, resisting a police officer, using force and violence against an LAPD member, amongst other charges,” TMZ reported.

As seen in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) body camera footage, Hayes tried to resist despite the police orders. The American professional basketball player continued to head indoors, leading to the police officer’s attempt to cuff him. It caused Hayes to struggle and allegedly pushed an officer into a wall.

An officer can be heard yelling, “Stop resisting, or I’m going to Tase you.” The officer was seen pressing a knee on Hayes’ neck while the basketball player gasped, “I can’t breathe. … I’m a blessed soul.” Another officer used a taser on Hayes, who then fell to the ground. Meanwhile, Hayes’ girlfriend can be also heard in the background, asking the police to stop hurting the basketball player.

Hayes’ arraignment is set for Feb. 15, if convicted on every count, the player could face jail time, although initial charges of a crime are often reduced through plea bargaining.

With an average of 17 minutes a game, he scored 8.9 points on 71.7% shooting, plus 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in the team’s last ten games. Hayes was the No. 8 pick in the 2019 NBA draft. This season, the 6-foot-11 center has come off the bench in 33 games for the Pelicans.