Masai Ujiri was on the highest of highs after watching his Toronto Raptors win their first ever NBA Championship, but it would quickly turn into anger after he had an altercation with a deputy on the sidelines.
The Toronto Raptors president pushed an Alameda County Sheriff’s Office deputy when he wasn’t let on the court to celebrate the team’s first ever NBA Finals win against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday evening, police said.
Sgt. Ray Kelly with the sheriff’s office confirmed the executive to be Masai Ujiri, the president of the Raptors organization.
Police described the incident as “a push that went upward and struck him [the deputy] in the face.”
Now, Ujiri will facing a charge for his alleged actions after Game 6.
Via TMZ:
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“A spokesperson for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Dept. tells us they WILL be pursuing a misdemeanor criminal charge against Ujiri for the alleged incident.
Sgt. Ray Kelly tells us, “[Ujiri] shoved our deputy and tried to walk past him.” That’s when Sgt. Kelly says the deputy “pushed [Ujiri] away from the court.”
Sgt. Kelly says Ujiri came back with a “second more significant push” with a part of his arm striking the deputy in the face.
Sgt. Kelly says the department believes Ujiri committed misdemeanor battery on a law enforcement officer.
He also says investigators are gathering more footage — including surveillance video — while building their case against Ujiri.”
“We are working with the Oakland Police Department to file a report and contact witnesses and review video,” Sgt. Ray Kelly with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said.
Ujiri eventually made his way onto the court for the celebration with the help of Toronto guard Kyle Lowry.
Ujiri joined the Raptors in 2013, and recently made waves when he suddenly traded franchise face DeMar Derozan to land Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard from the Spurs.
