Drug Charges Against Heat Forward Udonis Haslem Dropped

Haslem’s attorney, Eric Schwartzreich, told The Associated Press that he received a call with the decision Thursday afternoon. “The State Attorney’s Office will not be able to file charges,” Assistant State Attorney Errol Portman wrote in what’s known as a “no action” memo. Haslem expressed relief that the situation was over.

“I am really looking forward to getting back to basketball and focusing on the upcoming season,” Haslem said Thursday night in a statement released through the team. Portman wrote that Haslem’s fingerprints were not on the container of marijuana found in the vehicle, and as such, it couldn’t be proven that Haslem was actually in possession of the contraband.

The Heat forward was arrested Aug. 15 after being clocked driving 78 mph in a 60 mph zone on the Gratigny Parkway in Miami-Dade County. A search of his 2008 Mercedes turned up marijuana, which passenger Antwan Fleming claimed ownership of when questioned by the Florida Highway Patrol. Fleming’s fingerprints were found on the container, Portman wrote.

“While there was probable cause for the arrest of Udonis Haslem (it was in the car driven by Udonis Haslem, the car belonged to Udonis Haslem, the cannabis was in the immediate vicinity of Udonis Haslem, etc.), the State could not prove Udonis Haslem’s knowledge or possession of the cannabis beyond a reasonable doubt,” Portman said. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel first reported the case’s dismissal.