Detroit Tigers outfielder Delmon Young was arrested earlier this morning for allegedly striking a man outside a Midtown hotel. According to the Post, "Cops were called to the hotel around 2:40 a.m. after Young, whose ballclub is in town to play the Yankees tonight, pushed the man to the ground, sources said."
The Post's sources also describe him as being "highly intoxicated" and say that he "had to be taken to the hospital to sober up before being moved to a police precinct." The Daily News reports, "Young was taken to Roosevelt Hospital for detox before he was booked on assault charges at the Midtown North Precinct stationhouse."
Young and the Tigers are scheduled to play the Yankees tonight at Yankee Stadium. When the Detroit Free Press contacted the Tigers, spokesman Rick Thompson could only say about Young's status, "We’ll get back to you."
Update: Now the police are saying that Young is accused of uttering charged remarks: Detective Joseph Cavitolo told the Free Press, "Basically, there was an incident at the hotel (and) some anti-Semitic remarks." While Cavitolo wouldn't elaborate, the Post offers what its sources say happened:
A panhandler wearing a yamulke approached a group of people to ask for some change — and that's when Young, who was nearby, started shouting, "F--king Jews! F--king Jews!"
That's when another man and a group of his friends got into a confrontation with Young at about 2:40 a.m. that quickly turned physical along Sixth Avenue, law enforcement sources said.
Young allegedly scratched a 32-year-old during the fracas on East 54th Street, pushing him to the ground in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel.
Both groups eventually retreated to their rooms, sources said, and that is when one of the men Young had injured noticed several scratches and called 911.
The victim suffered scratches on his arm and was treated at the scene by paramedics.
