Ex-American cager nabbed

A 48-year-old former American basketball player was arrested after he allegedly harassed his neighbor in barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

Charges of malicious mischief and oral defamatory were filed against William Stephen Ledesma before the Mandaue City Prosecutors’ Office yesterday.

Police said Ledesma went to the house of Anncielo Colina around 3 a.m. last Monday and complained about the noise created by Colina’s crowing chickens.

PO2 Glenn Alcoseba of the Subangdaku police station said Ledesma threw stones at Colina’s house, damaging the rear windshield of the complainant’s car.

Damage was pegged between P15,000 to P20,000.

Colina reported the incident to the police station.

Policemen went to Ledesma’s rented apartment but the American did not face them as he locked himself in a room.

Around 10 p.m., Ledesma once again went to Colina’s house where he allegedly cursed and threatened his neighbor.

Colina called the police. But before the police could arrive, some bystanders in the area arrested Ledesma.

Insp. Ramil Morpos, chief of the Subangdaku police, said they will coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration to check on the legality of Ledesma’s stay in the country.

Morpos said Ledesma did not present any passport or identification card.

Police said it was the second time that Ledesma was arrested.

Ledesma was arrested last year after he smashed the window of a taxicab after he was hit while crossing a street.

Police said Ledesma is known in the neighborhood as ill-tempered.

Ledesma and his live-in partner refused to comment on the arrest.

Ledesma is a former basketball player in the United States. He played for the Los Angeles Clippers in a pre-season tournament of the National Basketball Association in 1987, according to www.nativeamericannationalteam.com./CORRESPONDENT FE MARIE D. DUMABOC