BREAKING: Valanciunas Arrested for DUI

UPDATE:

A report indicates that JV in fact was arrested at home.

Police say officers located the vehicle at a home, where they arrested Valanciunas alleging he was under the influence of alcohol while driving.

With just five games remaining in the regular season, the Toronto Raptors are hoping to build a positive momentum heading into their first playoff appearance in six years . Unfortunately, for both fans and the organization as a whole, it’s not going to go so smoothly. The Raptors’ starting centre Jonas Valanciunas was arrested early Monday morning for driving under the influence in Wasaga Beach, Ontario. At this point details are scarce, but the team did issue a statement to address the incident:

“We were made aware this morning of the incident involving Jonas Valanciunas and are disappointed he has put himself in this situation. We take this matter very seriously as we have the highest expectations for all members of our organization. At this time we are continuing to gather information and we will comment further when appropriate”

Valanciunas’ arrest is disappointing to say the least. The 21 year-old big man had been putting up huge numbers in the past few games and looked to continue his dominance in the postseason. Additionally, he has garnered much admiration for his charismatic persona and (like every other pro athlete) is a role model for the people that follow him. The worst part? His poor judgement may interfere with his team’s playoff schedule:

“Details are still emerging and he is scheduled to appear in court on Apr. 22, which could wind up being a day with a road playoff game. Valanciunas has stayed out of trouble to this point and he was really coming on strong in the past month. He is unlikely to be suspended this season.” 

The timing of this incident is probably the most concerning aspect. Valanciunas has been a key part of Toronto’s success this season, and his arrest will certainly impact the team’s off-court affairs and on-court performance (if he does miss games). Going into the playoffs, cohesion and focus are mandatory- hopefully the rest of the team can tune it all out and maintain their winning ways.

Remember that the specifics of the matter are not yet clear, so stay tuned for further developments.