Earlier this month, Cleveland Cavaliers sharpshooter J.R. Smith was cited with counts of reckless driving, as well as excessive speeding, by a patrolman in Bay Village, Ohio.
On Friday, “Swish,” as he’s came to be known, turned in a “not guilty” plea through his defense attorney, Daniel Klonowski.
“Smith, whose real name is Earl Joseph Smith III, pleaded not guilty Friday through his attorney to a charge of willful or wanton disregard of safety when the charge was filed in Rocky River Municipal Court,” Joe Vardon of cleveland.com writes in his recent article.
“He waived his first court appearance and defense attorney Daniel Klonowski asked for a pretrial hearing date that has not yet been set.”
According to Vardon and the police report, Smith was speeding West on Lake Road, between Oakmoor Avenue and Glen Park Drive, in a 2016 Dodge Avenger — one day before the Cavs’ final preseason game. A Westlake patrolman was the first to notify Bay Village officers that Smith’s car was traveling at a high rate of speed on I-90.
“The officer turned around and Smith pulled into the driveway of a neighbors’ home, according to the police report. Police gave Smith field sobriety tests, but the report does not say anything about the results.”
The police report, which does not indicate an actual rate of speed, also notes that a family member was called to drive Smith’s car home upon completion of the traffic stop.
Hopefully, J.R. Smith, who is a beloved member of the Cavs organization, will learn from this unfortunate mistake. There is a time and place for driving fast. The sleepy suburban streets of Bay Village are not that place, especially at 1:20 in the morning.