Malone arrested for DUI, cocaine

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Saturday, April 12, 2014

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ryan Malone was arrested early Saturday morning on charges of driving under the influence and possession of cocaine.

Malone, 34, was arrested at 5:40 a.m. ET in Tampa and was released on $2,500 bond, according to an arrest report from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Jail records didn't show whether he had an attorney.

Tampa Police Lt. Paul Lusczynski says Malone's breath smelled like alcohol when he was stopped by an officer early Saturday. According to a police report, the officer also found 1.3 grams of cocaine in one of Malone's pockets.

Lusczynski says Malone refused to take field sobriety tests, but a breath test given at the jail recorded blood alcohol levels of 0.112 and 0.116 percent. Florida law considers a driver impaired at 0.08.

Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said in a statement that Malone would not accompany the team for Sunday afternoon's road game against the Washington Capitals.

"We are aware of the situation concerning Ryan Malone this morning," Yzerman said in the statement. "Ryan will not travel with the team to Washington today, but beyond that we cannot comment further at this time."

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league was aware of the situation.

"Under the terms of the collectively bargained joint NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, Mr. Malone is subject to mandatory evaluation and, if deemed necessary by the Program Doctors, treatment pursuant to the terms of that Program," Daly said in a release. "His future playing status, both in the near term and during the Playoffs, will be determined in accordance the terms of our SABH Program."

Malone has five goals and 10 assists in 57 games this season, his sixth with the Lightning. The Pittsburgh native has 179 goals and 191 assists in 641 career games with the Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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