Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith reportedly turned himself in to NYPD early this morning and was charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief, stemming from a July incident where he allegedly threw a cell phone, according to TMZ Sports.
According to reports, Smith had been partying at The Park in NYC's Chelsea neighborhood last month when a fan approached him on the street and asked to take a photo. Smith reportedly informed the fan that he wasn't interested in taking any photos, but that didn't stop the man from snapping a pic anyway. As a result, that phone ended up in a nearby construction zone.
Per TMZ Sports:
"Law enforcement sources tell us ... they got a call around 2:30 AM on Sunday morning from a guy who says he tried to take a picture with the Cleveland Cavs star outside of The Park, a hotspot in Chelsea."
"We're told ... Smith allegedly approached the fan and snatched the phone out of his hand and then launched it into a nearby construction zone. The fan claims his $800 phone was damaged and he has filed a report with police."
Smith was also issued a desk appearance ticket to appear in court at a later date but his lawyer, Alex Spiro, tells TMZ, "This is nonsense, and we aren't responding to nonsense. He was issued a ticket."