UPDATE: Lakers Rookie Derrick Caracter Arrested

The LA Times reports that Caracter found himself in cuffs, and charged with battery over the weekend in New Orleans: “Lakers forward Derrick Caracter was arrested early Sunday morning in New Orleans after an alleged altercation near the team hotel, The Times has learned. Caracter was charged with battery. The rookie did not play Sunday in Game 4 and has been on the inactive list every game of the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against New Orleans. He averaged two points and one rebound in 41 regular-season games.”

UPDATE: The Times-Picayune has more, disturbing details of the alleged incident: “Derrick Caracter, 22, was arrested about 1:18 a.m. Sunday at the IHOP in the 800 block of Canal Street, said New Orleans Police spokeswoman Shereese Harper. Caracter, a 6-foot-9 forward who was in New Orleans for the playoffs series, was drunk and acting disorderly inside the restaurant, police said. He ‘started grabbing and pulling’ a pregnant waitress, prompting the manager to go outside and flag down a police officer, Harper said. The female officer tried to defuse the situation, Harper said, but Caracter remained obstinate. The officer arrested him. He was handcuffed and taken to Orleans Parish jail and booked with one count of battery for hitting the waitress, as well as one count each of public intoxication and resisting arrest. Each charge is a municipal violation, police said.”