911 Call, Police Video Released Of LeBron James' Mom
Shaneeva Yassin, Web Journalist & Producer
CBSMiami.com
MIAMI (CSB4)- The 911 calls and police video of Gloria James, LeBron James' mother, inside the Miami Beach Police Department when she was arrested was released Friday.
In the video, Gloria James was being processed at the police department after she was taken into custody at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach early Thursday morning. Police said James was uncooperative and argued for a while, telling them, "I'm trying to trust you, but I don't trust your kind."
"You can clearly see that she is giving the officers a hard time, being condescending and rude," said Miami Beach Police Sgt. Wayne Jones. "She didn't feel like she did anything wrong and she wanted to go home."
Jones said Gloria James complained about being arrested.
"I think the message is very clear," said Jones. "Be nice. Be polite. Or you will go to jail."
Outside the American Airlines Arena, fans who were filing in to the Heat's game against the Charlotte Bobcats were talking about the tape and the accusations against Gloria James. Some said they wanted to hear more of her side of the story. But she is not talking.
"I think she was out of line," said Heat fan Marilyn Ewing. "I thought she was out of line," added Brian Ramos, an another fan.
Esther Sotolongo said, "I think it is embarrassing really. I was surprised. I feel bad for Lebron James, having a parent act like that."
"Why would she do that?" asked Heat fan Corey Chung. "He was just doing his job."
Heat fans said they did not think the incident would harm Lebron James's focus on winning games.
"He's a professional," said Chandlor Donald. "He's done this before. He'll be fine."
A 911 call was also released Friday where a security officer at the hotel called police to report the incident.
A man is calling from the hotel's security office.
"It's a battery," he says. "A valet parking runner was struck by a patron. It was a case of battery. My supervisor on the scene is requesting a police unit as soon as possible."
According to the arrest report, Gloria James asked a valet, Sorel Rockefeller, to get her car for her at the Fontainebleau Thursday before she was arrested.
The arrest reports states the valet then gave the keys to the valet cashier. Police said James then allegedly confronted the employee and said, "where are my *expletive* keys?"
According to the arrest report, the valet said James then "struck the victim with an open hand across the right side of the face." Police said that James fell to the ground after losing her balance.
Police said James then became defensive and that she had bloodshot eyes and a "strong odor of alcohol on her breath."
It was at this point, police said that security employees at the Fontainebleau told officers that the woman was LeBron James' mother.
In an interview with CBS4′s Peter D'Oench, Rockefeller said, "She said bad words to me. Then she said shut up and she slapped my face. That's when she fell down on the ground. The reason she was upset was because it was taking awhile to get her car."
James was released hours after she was arrested and is facing battery charges.
LeBron James said the matter is a personal matter.
"It's a sensitive subject," LeBron James said after the Heat's Thursday practice. "It's a personal matter. It's being taken care of."
It's not Gloria James first run-in with the law. In January of 2006, she was arrested in Akron, Ohio for driving while intoxicated and disorderly conduct.
