DETROIT – Former Michigan State University basketball star Keith Appling was arrested Sunday night in Detroit.
Police said a blue 2013 Dodge Charger was stopped after it was seen commiting a traffic violation at 7 Mile Road and Russell Avenue.
According to police, the officer noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and asked for the drivers license. Police said when the officer reached for the license, the driver rolled up his window an drove off.
The officer was not injured in the incident.]
The driver was pursued and was arrested at about 9 p.m. in the area of State Fair Avenue and Orleans Street on the city's east side.
Police identified the driver as 24-year-old Appling.
According to police, a Gucci bag was on the rear seat when Appling was initially stopped but was missing when he was arrested. Officers went over the pursuit route and found the bag on the side of the road. Police said inside the bag was paperwork with Appling's name on it it, a blue steel Beretta loaded with 10 rounds.
This was Appling's third arrest in less than 6 months.
In June, Appling was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle. He was in the backseat of his brother's vehicle when they were pulled over for speeding in the area of Hanna Street and 7 Mile Road. Appling allegedly tried hiding a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson under a car seat.
In May, appling was arrested in the parking lot a of a Dearborn strip club on Michigan Avenue. Police allegedly found a handgun, a small amount of suspected marijuana and a loaded AK-47 in the trunk of his car.
Appling is a Detroit native who played basketball for Pershing High School and then MSU before spending the last year with the Orlando Magic's Developmental League team. He went undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft.